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Colosseum lights up life
 With
the initiative "Colosseum lights up life", promoted by
the Community of Sant'Egidio, Amnesty International, Hands Off Cain, the
City Council of Rome and other public institutions such as ACEA until the
end of 2000, the Colosseum - site of terror and bloodshed in imperial Rome
- was illuminated with bright yellow-gold light for two days each time an
execution anywhere in the world was suspended or commuted, or a nation
abolished capital punishment.
John Paul
II, who has frequently
intervened personally to try to prevent executions, participated to the inauguration
by a video-tape, recorded at the prayer of Angelus, on the same day, Dec. 12th
1999. We report his words:"This evening a demonstration will be held at the Colosseum as
part of the world campaign for a moratorium on the death penalty. The Great Jubilee is an
excellent opportunity to promote in the world ever more mature forms of respect for the
life and dignity of every person. I therefore renew my appeal to all leaders to reach an
international consensus on the abolition of the death penalty, since "cases in which
the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically
non-existent" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2267)." - John Paul II -
Angelus Sunday December 12 1999
The
Colosseum was lit up 18 times:
| December 18th - 24th 2000 |
On the occasion of the
presentation to Kofi Annan of 3,000,000 signatures and the appeal, which
will be handed over officially by the Community of Sant'Egidio,
Amnesty International and Sr. Helen Prejean. |
| December 16th - 17th 2000 |
For the decision of the
Philipino President Estrada to commute 105 death-sentences
into life sentences. |
| November
25th - 26th 2000 |
For the commutation of the
death-sentence into a life sentence for Marcus Carter, following the
decision of Governor of North Carolina (USA) Jim Hunt. |
| September
12th -13-th |
For the abolition of the death
penalty in Ivory Coast |
| July
27th - 28th |
For the commutation of the death
sentence to life sentence, decided by the President of Uganda Museveni,
for 12 men: Sam Kayanja, Vianney Magezi, Benon Musasizi, Robert
Sabiiti, Karim Bagenda, John Bosco Ssenfuka, Vincent Kwerimba, Robert
Musiga, Ben Mulwani, Muhammed Mukasa, Muhammed Ukama and Cpl. Henry
Mutono |
| June 9th-10th |
For the commutation of the
death-sentence into a life sentence for Eugene Colvin-El, following the
decision of Governor Parris Glendening of Maryland (USA). He made the
decision because he was not certain enough of the man's guilt to proceed
with the execution. |
| May 4th - 5th |
For the commutation of the death
sentence to 15-year sentences for 4 Iranian students:Mehrdad Sohrabi,
Ahmad Batebi, Abbas Deldar e Akbar Mohammadi |
| March 27th - 28th |
For the moratorium of the
executions,
announced by the President of Philippines Estrada, on the occasion of the
JUbilee, according the urgent request from the Philipino Catholic Church.
In this way the life of at least 18 people - whose execution was scheduled
this year - will be saved. |
| Feb. 10th-11th |
The Community of Sant'Egidio has asked for
and obtained from the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, L. D.
Kabila, the
commutation of the death sentences of Sami Yassine and Khalil Ghodban, two Lebanese
inmates. |
| Feb. 1st-2nd |
For the moratorium of executions in Illinois
(USA) |
| Jan. 19-20 2000 |
For the commutation of more than 100 death
sentences into life-sentences by the Government in Nigeria |
| Jan. 15-16 2000 |
For the commutation of a death-sentence into
life sentence, signed by the President of Western Samoa |
| Jan. 13-14 2000 |
For the abolition of the death penalty
in Bermuda |
| Dec. 31 - Jan. 1 2000 |
For the abolition of the death penalty in
Turkmenistan |
| Dec. 19 1999 |
For the commutations of 30 death sentences into
life-sentences in Thailand, on the occasion of the 72th birthday of the King
Bhumibol Adulyadei |
| Dec. 17-18 1999 |
For the commutation of the death sentence into
life-sentence for Wendell Flowers, North Carolina (USA) |
| Dec. 12-13 '99 |
For the abolition of the death penalty in Albania |
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