Oklahoma death penalty critics point out problems

[struggle4progress]

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 10/11/2011 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 10/11/2011 6:42 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY - ... The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty held a Capitol news conference in connection with "World Day Against the Death Penalty," which began in 2003, said Kenny Fikes, co-chairman of the state group.

"It is inhuman, cruel and degrading," Fikes said. "The dreadful conditions on death row inflict extreme psychological suffering, and execution is a physical and mental assault."

Twenty-three countries carried out executions last year, with the highest numbers in China, Iran, North Korea and the United States, Fikes said. He said Amnesty International reports that 2,024 death sentences were imposed in 67 countries last year.

"That is assuming all the reporting is correct, which we know, in most cases, it is not," Fikes said ...

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20111011_16_A7_OKLAHO225168