VOA慢速英语2016--大赦国际称2015年全世界处决人犯数量破纪录

AS IT IS 2016-04-10 Amnesty International Reports Sharp Jump in Executions² 大赦国际称2015年全世界处决人犯数量破纪录

More people were put to death last year than in any year since 1989, according to Amnesty International.

The rights group reported that at least 1,634 people worldwide were executed³ in 2015. That represents an increase of 54 percent from the number in 2014.

Amnesty called the number of those put to death, “profoundly⁴ disturbing.”

The group said Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the increase in executions in 2015. Those countries were responsible for 89 percent of all reported executions.

Iran executed at least 977 people last year, the group said. More than 320 executions were recorded in Pakistan, while at least 158 people were put to death in Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty said most executions in Saudi Arabia were beheadings. In Iran, the majority of those put to death had been tried and found guilty of drug charges.

The report failed to give the number of executions carried out in China. There, information about the death penalty⁵ is considered a state secret, so execution¹ numbers are not reported.

Belarus and Vietnam also did not provide information for the report. Belarus is the only country in Europe to use the death penalty.

Amnesty said the United States carried out 28 executions last year, the lowest number since 1991. In 2015, the state of Pennsylvania ordered a ban on executions. The group said a total of 18 states have barred execution as a form of punishment.

Amnesty International said the top five executioners in the world were China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

A majority of the world’s countries – a total of 102 nations – have stopped using the death penalty.

Words in This Story

profoundly – adj. extremely; greatly

disturbing – n. worrying; causing concern

beheading – n. the act of cutting off a person’s head

death penalty – n. death as a punishment given by a court of law for very serious crimes

1 execution   

n.死刑，实行，执行，履行，演奏，表演

参考例句：

• The musician's execution was perfect,but he played without feeling.演奏者的技巧完美，但他演奏得毫无感情。
• His original idea was good,but his execution of the scheme was disastrous.他的设想很好，但实行起来却糟糕透顶。

2 executions   

n.实行( execution的名词复数 )；（尤指遗嘱的）执行；演奏；依法处决

参考例句：

• Executions used to be held in public. 过去处决犯人都公开执行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The espionage, the betrayals, the arrests, the tortures, the executions, the disappearances will never cease. 间谍活动、叛党卖国、逮捕拷打、处决灭迹，这种事情永远不会完。 来自英汉文学

3 executed   

v.执行（法令）( execute的过去式和过去分词 )；（按计划或设计）作成；履行；演（戏）

参考例句：

• He was executed for treason. 他因叛国罪被处死。
• He was executed in 1887for plotting to assassinate the tsar. 他因密谋暗杀沙皇在1887年被判处极刑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 profoundly   

ad.深深地

参考例句：

• We are profoundly affected by what happens to us in childhood. 童年发生的事深深地影响着我们。
• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents. 你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。

5 penalty   

n.处罚，刑罚，罚款

参考例句：

• If you knock the ball with your hand in football,you will suffer a penalty.如果在踢足球时你用手碰到球，你将受到处罚。
• One of those arrested could face the death penalty.被捕的那些人中有一人可能被判死刑。