EU Policy On The Death Penalty
EMBASSY OF SWEDEN
WASHINGTON
Office of the Press Counselor
Tel: (202) 467-2655
Fax: (202 )467-2656
PRESS RELEASE
March 27, 2001
THE EUROPEAN UNION APPEALS TO THE STATE OF NEVADA TO
COMMUTE A DEATH SENTENCE
In letters to the Governor of Nevada and the members of
the Nevada Board of Pardons, the European Union has presented an urgent
humanitarian appeal on behalf of Mr. Thomas Nevius, who has been
sentenced to death in Nevada.
Mr. Nevius has been diagnosed as being mentally
retarded, with tests placing his IQ between 57 and 68. The execution of
mentally retarded persons conflicts with the minimum standards for human
rights set forth in several resolutions by the United Nations.
A clemency hearing for Mr. Nevius has been scheduled for
April 11th, 2001. The EU appeals to the Governor and the
Nevada Board of Pardons to commute his death sentence.
The letters were signed by Sweden, the current President
of the European Union, together with Belgium, the subsequent EU
President, and the European Commission.
The European Union's position is set forth in the EU Memorandum
on the Death Penalty, which can be found at http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/DeathPenalty/eumemorandum.htm.
Letter to Nevada Governor Guinn
on Behalf of Thomas Nevius.
Letter to Nevada Board of Pardons
on Behalf of Thomas Nevius.
Embassy
of Sweden, 15
01 M Street, N.W., W
shington DC 20005
tel: (202) 467-2600, fax: (202) 467-2699
Homepage: www.swedenemb.org
