Iran Executions Spur Anti-Death-Penalty Rallies Across Europe, US

World Day Against the Death Penalty prompted vigils, exhibitions and solidarity runs in U.S. and European cities, where Iranian communities called for an end to executions in Iran, the release of political prisoners and accountability for officials. The day also renewed debate in the United States after the Pentagon announced plans to livestream a firing-squad execution; Catholic leaders, including Pope Leo’s Secretary of State and the head of the U.S. bishops, opposed the plan and reaffirmed the Church’s call to abolish capital punishment. A separate commentary criticized the prospect of public executions and noted that the United States remains among a small group of countries that carry out executions regularly. In Laos, where no executions have occurred for more than three decades despite capital punishment remaining legal, a joint EU-Laos op-ed presented the record as an example of restraint and described recent reductions in the number of death-eligible offenses.