Join us for TADP-06, “War and Capital Punishment”,  July’s contribution to the Zoom series “Towards the Abolition of the Death Penalty” (TADP).

In this session, capital punishment will be examined in both global and regional contexts, with a focus on times of armed conflict. We will explore how war increases violations of the right to life and poses a serious challenge to the abolitionist discourse. War will be discussed as a setting in which the state’s use of lethal force is readily justified, expanded, and normalized. The death penalty, in its various forms, is often imposed on vague grounds such as national security, espionage, sedition, or terrorism. During periods of foreign aggression, these justifications become especially convenient for the continued use of capital punishment. The session will shed light on ideas and ways to hold aggressors and human rights violators accountable in such contexts, for protecting human life, particularly in times of war.

This event features incredible and thought-provoking insights from:

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – Norwegian-Iranian neuroscientist and internationally-renowned defender of human rights

Alex Neve – professor in international human rights law at University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University

Omid Milani – scholar of human rights law at University of Ottawa and multimedia artist

This event is moderated by the great journalist, broadcaster and producer Samira Mohyeddin, journalism fellow, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto

“Towards the Abolition of the Death Penalty” is a panel discussion series on Zoom that aims to provide in-depth discussions on the death penalty from diverse legal, philosophical, sociological, psychological, and political perspectives. The speakers address and put in context current instances of the death penalty, exploring the dynamics involved in this criminal sanction. The series aims to create a dialogical platform for everyone interested in engaging with the abolitionist discourse to discuss the possibilities and challenges to put an end to the death penalty.

The series is offered in a joint partnership between the Paivand Society, the Canadian International Council (Saskatoon Branch), Amnesty International Canada, Carleton University’s Youth and Justice Lab, the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (University of Ottawa), and the Mardom Foundation, as a year-long monthly discussion beginning in February 2025 and concluding in December 2025.