News You Won't Get in the US

China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States are the countries in which the majority of the world's executions take place. Today's El pais reports that 2,148 executions were registered last year in 22 countries. 94% of those executions were produced in only four countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States. These statistics are reported by Amnesty International in celebration (if you can celebrate anything like this) of the World Day against the Death Penalty.

China registered 1,170 executions (although according to Chinese experts there are probably more like 8 or 10,000 people executed every year); Iran 94; Saudi Arabia 86. And the US celebrated its freedom to exercise the death penalty on 60 folks in 2005.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and the US. Nice.