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Death penalty repeal: if not now, when?
There is a growing call from the Black community throughout the nation for reform of the criminal justice system. We hear the bellowing of the now-famous phrase “Black Lives Matter”…
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“My Heart Is Exhausted”: A Mother’s Story of Death Row in Saudi Arabia
By Nassra al-Ahmed, mother of Ali al-Nimr Ali al-Nimr was just 17 when he was arrested on 14 February 2012 a few months after taking part in anti-government rallies. He was…
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The Case of Richard Glossip
Richard Glossip was sentenced to death in 1997 following a murder-for-hire conviction in the homicide case of motel owner Barry Van Treese in Oklahoma City. However, the only evidence used…
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Executions of Juvenile Offenders in Iran Are an Affront to the World’s Conscience
In a very rare piece of good news in an otherwise bleak landscape, Iranian authorities recently postponed the scheduled execution of juvenile offender Salar Shadizadi at the eleventh hour. He was…
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Much to Be Thankful For
By Meredith Reese, Missouri State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator (SDPAC) It had been twenty-two years, seven months, twenty-two days and countless hours since Reggie Clemons was sentenced to death until, on November 24,…
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One in 10 Death Row Inmates Are Veterans
By Mark Berman via The Washington Post One-tenth of those who currently on death row in the United States are military veterans, including some with post-traumatic stress disorder that was not factored into…
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A Father’s Urgent Plea to See His Son Freed From Death Row in Saudi Arabia
By Mohammed al-Nimr Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province in 2012 when he was only 17 years old. He was sentenced to death after a grossly…
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#KellyOnMyMind: Georgia Set to Execute First Woman in 70 Years
The state of Georgia is set to execute Kelly Gissendaner next week, on Tuesday September 29. In some ways this case is unusual, even exceptional; in other ways, it’s business…
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A Beginner’s Guide to Human Rights Jargon
Baffled by technical human rights terms and precise legal definitions? You’re not alone. Here’s a quick glossary of some of the most troublesome words and phrases. Commute: Commute means to replace a…
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Are Justices Breyer and Ginsberg Ready to Call It Quits on the Death Penalty?
On Monday the Supreme Court issued their decision in Glossip v. Gross, voting 5-4 to allow Oklahoma to continue to use midazolam in their lethal injection procedure. The Court ruled…