B4-0889, 0907 and 0923/95

Resolution on the death penalty in the United States and the Abu-Jamal case

The European Parliament,

-recalling its previous resolutions condemning the use of the death penalty and in particular the resolution of 16 March 1995 on the reintroduction of the death penalty in the State of New York,

A.whereas Mr Mumia Abu-Jamal was condemned to death in December 1982,

B.whereas the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania signed the order for the execution of Mr Abu-Jamal on 17 August 1995,

C.having regard to the appeals from numerous personalities, associations for the defence of human rights, trade unions and other organizations throughout the world who are fighting to save Mr Abu-Jamal's life,

D.whereas the authorities of the State of Pennsylvania are due to decide on a stay of execution for Mr Abu-Jamal in the next few days,

1.Calls on the Governor of Pennsylvania to grant to a stay of execution to Mr Abu-Jamal and to initiate proceedings for a review of his case;

2.Reaffirms its total opposition to the death penalty and deplores the fact that the death penalty continues to be used in numerous States in the world and that in recent months there has been an increase in the number of executions in the world;

3.Calls once again on all the States of the United States where the death penalty exists to abandon its use;

4.Calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to do everything possible to enable the General Assembly of the United Nations to promote, at its 50th plenary session, the establishment of a universal moratorium on capital punishment as a first step towards its total and definitive abolition;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the UN, the governments of the Member States, the Senate of the United States, the President of the United States and the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania.