Sierra Leone's parliament unanimously votes to abolish colonial-era death penalty laws

In a major jolt against capital punishment, Sierra Leone's parliament, on Friday, unanimously voted to abolish colonial-era law. According to a report by  New York Times, recent move by Western African country comes after a regular movement of people to abolish brutal laws which were imposed by colonial masters. Earlier this year, Malawi-- a landlocked country in souastern Africa, and Ch-- a similar landlocked country in north-central Africa, were termed colonial-era death penalty laws "unconstitutional". With recent move by Sierra Leone, it has become 23rd on continent to forbid capital punishment.

Human rights activists applaud Sierra Leone's parliament step

Oluwatosin Popoola, a legal viser at rights group Amnesty International and a leing critic of capital punishment said that law is a stringent fine against humanity and ded world need to abolish law in any case. While, Simitie Lavaly, lawyer and a member of Sierra Leone's Human Rights Commission has applauded Parliament for abolishing law and ded it's her dream that has come true on Friday. It is worth noting that at least 54 independent African countries have abolished capital punishment law in last 20 years. Sierra Leone h last executed this law in 1998 when 24 soldiers were executed by firing in devastating civil war.

Death penalties have declined globally: Reports

According to report, death penalties have declined globally in recent years. However, decline does not represent increasing number of nations that have prevented capital punishment, but, due to COVID-19 pandemic that has slowed down judicial proceedings in several African and Asian countries. report has also noted that United States has witnessed an increase in federal executions in last year.

China tops list while Middle East countries following Beijing's trend

According to Amnesty International, an international non-governmental organization that focused on human rights and compiles capital punishment statistics, China tops list of capital punishment, but exact data always remains a 'top secret'. report also suggests that capital punishment is a normal affair in Middle East countries. It said Iran h executed at least 246 people, and n Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, whereas United States maintained sixth place with 17 executions. 

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