STOP KILLING MENTALLY RETARDED

We would like to tell you our deep concerns regarding the execution of mentally retarded people today, here, in the United States of America.

Since the Death Penalty has been reinstated, in 1976, 35 mentally retarded (and sometimes also mentally ill -we call it "dual diagnosis") have been put to deat. This is a blatant violation of many treaties (please see at the end) and of Human Rights' convention.

Those people deserve to be helped, not executed. A large majority of mentally retarded people has suffered from lack of love and severe child abuses -physical, sexual. They have been beaten, treated than less human beings. Fortunately, already 13 American states have prohibited such executions.

We will never forget that Hitler's extermination programme began with the sterilization, then the murder of those called "undesirable" -because they were mentally retarded. We do not want to see the repetition of such a nightmare in a new Millenium and in the most powerful country in the world.

We do know that some of these people, because of what they have suffered, because of their lack of intelligence and ability to grow up at a normal pace, can be dangerous to themselves and to others. What is right, what is wrong? They see life in a haze and are most of the time not able to learn from their mistakes.

Execution cannot be the solution! Those people need nurses, hospitals, centers, homes to be protected from themselves and not become a danger for us all.

We work in close association with Mental Health Foundations (such as AAMR, ARC, TASH..) and also with the American Bar Association (ABA).
We also work with volunteers who have spent a lot of their time with those "lost souls".

So, please, stop this abomination. Say "NO" to the execution of mentally retarded. How can you recognize them? There is an IQ standard which is 70 (that does mean that people with such an IQ are able to understand what others say to them -no more). Below this 70's IQ standard begins what we call "retardation".
Help them -Do not kill them.

Sincerely

Ms Fabian Gastellier -International Bannister Foundation -FRANCE

LAW: In Resolution 1989/64, 24 May 1989, The United Nation Economic and Social Council Recommends that Member States take steps to implement the safeguards and strengthen further the protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, where applicable, by:
Eliminating the death penalty for persons suffering from mental retardation or extremely limited mental competence, whether at the age of sentence or execution.