Death Penalty should be Outlawed Altogether

Yavuz Onen, the head of Turkey's Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) and Husnu Ondul, the head of the Human Rights Association (IHD, said Turkey's formal ratification of the Council of Europe's 6th additional protocol, which outlaws peacetime executions, was a positive development. However, it is an inadequate development, the said.

Onen and Ondul said the European Commission ratified the 6th additional protocol in 1983. Two years ago the commission ratified protocol 13, which outlaws both peacetime and wartime executions. They said Turkey should also ratify protocol 13.

Onen and Ondul said Turkey was one of the five countries that had not signed protocol 13, which outlaws executions at wartime and near wartime periods. They added that this would have a negative effect on Turkey's bid to join the European Union:

"The EU had asked Turkey to ratify protocol 6 which outlaws peacetime executions. But the EU has taken a step forwards. Soon, they will ask Turkey to ratify protocol 13 too."

Turkey is one of the five countries

* Turkey on January 15, 2003, ratified Council of Europe's 6th additional protocol that outlaws peacetime executions. The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) approved this with a law. Turkey on Wednesday, delivered the approval to the Council of Europe's Secretary General through a representative. Thus, Turkey formally ratified the 6th additional protocol.

* Protocol 6 outlaws peacetime executions. However, the European Commission has prepared another regulation, which goes beyond protocol 6, and ratified protocol 13. This protocol outlaws both peacetime and wartime executions. Death penalty is outlawed in every case.

* 36 out of 41 European countries ratified protocol 13. Turkey has yet to do so.

* Human rights advocates demand that Turkey signs protocol 13 and outlaws death penalties altogether. (BB/EA/NM)