Capital punishment in Cuba

The use of capital punishment in Cuba has declined in the last decade, with the last executions in 2003. National legislation provides for death penalty for murder, threatening to commit murder, aggravated rape, terrorism, hijacking, piracy, drug trafficking and manufacturing, espionage, and treason are examples of offences meriting the criminal death penalty. The typical method is execution by firing squad.[1]

Overview

The 1940 Constitution of Cuba banned capital punishment for peacetime offenses, but the penalty was officially reinstated by law as well as in practice following the Cuban Revolution, in 1959. Sources suggest many more have been executed since 1959, compared to official statistics. The last sentences were commuted in December 2010.[2][3][4]

The last recorded executions were on April 11, 2003,[5] The case concerned three men who were found guilty of having hijacked a Regla ferry. The hijack occurred on April 4 2003; during the incident, the plaintiffs were alleged to have threatened to kill passengers, demanding sufficient fuel to travel to the United States.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Death Penalty Worldwide". The Death Penalty Worldwide database. World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.cubaverdad.net/genocide.htm#Other Sources:
  3. ↑ http://www.amnesty.se/vad-gor-vi/dodsstraffet/dodsstraffet-i-varlden/
  4. ↑ http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2886.htm
  5. ↑ when three men were executed by firing squad for ferry hijacking - Americas, Worls - The Independent
  6. ↑ Cuba, Hijack Timeline, 21st Century
  7. ↑ BBC NEWS | Americas | Cuba ferry hostages released
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