Italy ratifies provision banning death penalty for all purposes News
Italy ratifies provision banning death penalty for all purposes

[JURIST] Italy formally agreed to abolish the death penalty for all purposes by ratifying Protocol 13 [text] to the European Convention on Human Rights [text], the Council of Europe (COE) [official website] announced [press release] Tuesday. Italy is the 41st of the COE's 47 member states to adopt the provision, following France, which adopted [JURIST report] it in 2007. The remaining six states have instituted moratoria on executions.

Italy has been a leading opponent of the death penalty, having banned capital punishment for most purposes since 1948. In September 2007, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi urged all nations to institute a moratorium on capital punishment in an address [text, PDF] delivered to the UN General Assembly. In January 2007, Italy received the support [JURIST report] of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when it launched a new push against the death penalty [JURIST report] following the execution of Saddam Hussein. In May 2007, more than 300 Italian prisoners serving life sentences sent a letter [JURIST report] to the Italian president asking that the death penalty be reinstated.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.