Capital punishment in Greece
Encyclopedia
In Greece
the last execution took place on the 25th of August 1972. The 27 year old Vassilis Lymberis was shot by firing squad for the murder of his wife, mother-in-law and two children on the island of Crete.
Capital punishment was abolished for peacetime crimes other than treason
during wartime by the Constitution of 1975. In 1997 Greece ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty; however, a reservation was made allowing for death penalty use for the most serious crimes of a military nature committed during wartime. Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights
, providing for the abolition of the death penalty in peacetime, was ratified in 1998.
Greece abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 2004; in 2005, Greece ratified the Protocol No. 13 to the ECHR, concerning the abolition of the death penalty under all circumstances.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
the last execution took place on the 25th of August 1972. The 27 year old Vassilis Lymberis was shot by firing squad for the murder of his wife, mother-in-law and two children on the island of Crete.
Capital punishment was abolished for peacetime crimes other than treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
during wartime by the Constitution of 1975. In 1997 Greece ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty; however, a reservation was made allowing for death penalty use for the most serious crimes of a military nature committed during wartime. Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights
European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953...
, providing for the abolition of the death penalty in peacetime, was ratified in 1998.
Greece abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 2004; in 2005, Greece ratified the Protocol No. 13 to the ECHR, concerning the abolition of the death penalty under all circumstances.