Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New York (Agenzia Fides) - Five million signatures against the death penalty will be presented to Srgian Kerim president of the 62nd general assembly of the United Nations Organisation on 2 November, in New York by a delegation of the S. Egidio community and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. The petition, signed by people all over the world, demands a universal moratorium for capital punishment. The text of the S. Egidio appeal was adopted by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The petition, to be given to Srgian Kerim, in view of a general assembly discussion on a Moratorium for capital punishment, will be presented in the next few days in about 60 different countries. The delegation led by S. Egidio spokesman Mario Marazziti, will include Sr Helen Prejean, American anti death penalty activist, and representatives of other important organisations which promote the abolition of the death penalty. The presentation of the signatures will be followed by a video press conference, at which speakers will include Archbishop Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (London); Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Nobel peace prize winner (Buenos Aires); Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (Vatican); Siti Musdah Mulia, Muslim theologian of Djakharta University. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 31/10/2007; righe 16, parole 219)
