BAJ invites to the presentation of a book “Who Needs Death Penalty”

The book was issued within the project for abolishment of the death penalty “Because We Are People!”, implemented by the organization Penal Reform International and a number of Belarusian NGOs.

The book comprises materials and stories and provides statistics related to the use of the death penalty in Belarus and the perspectives of its abolishment.

The presentation will be held on Thursday, October 9, on the eve of the World Day against the Death Penalty, at 6 p.m. at the office of the Belarusian Association of Journalists in Kamsamolskaya Street, 7-32, Minsk. One can enter the office through the beauty centre “Body Jazz”.

“All arguments for and against the death penalty must be grounded on realization of the complex nature of this issue. Frankly speaking, the book is about this. All of us have our own views on this matter. Some refer to political and religious arguments, opinions of well-known thinkers, others – on their own experience, and somebody else still follows the opinion of the majority.

The attitude to the death penalty has become a boundary which separates the advocates and adversaries of the death penalty into two camps on philosophical and ideological positions. Therefore, speaking in favour of the death penalty or against it, we characterize not only the problem, but also ourselves,” reads the preface to the book, compiled by Valery Filipau. 

Valery Filipau is one of the first human rights defenders who started dealing with the topic of the abolishment of the death penalty in Belarus. Three books, dedicated to the right to life, have been published under his direction.