Document
Letter to Hon. Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of Florida, 6 December, 2006
Honorable Governor Bush,
The purpose of this letter is to appeal to your Excellency to save the life of the
Puerto Rican national Mr Ángel Nieves Díaz, who was sentenced to death by the
State of Florida over twenty years ago, and is presently awaiting execution. His
execution is set for 13 December and all judicial appellate procedures have been
exhausted. Therefore the only remaining option is for you to intervene to halt his
execution.
The World Council of Churches and its members are opposed to the death
penalty. The circumstances of this case in particular merit Your Excellency's immediate
intervention, considering both the advanced age of Mr Díaz and the prolonged
duration of his imprisonment. Moreover, doubts have also been expressed
with respect to the proceedings of Mr Ángel Nieves Díaz's case resulting in his
being sentenced to death and the case needs to be reviewed.
The World Council of Churches declared in one of its policy statements that
its members are unconditionally opposed to the death penalty as an expression of
its commitment to the sanctity of life. As Christians, we believe that God created
human beings as an infinitely precious part of His creation and has endowed
each one of them with the gift of life. The churches therefore have a responsibility
to promote strict adherence to the international rule of law and international
human rights standards related to the treatment of the accused.
In these circumstances, we appeal to your Excellency to demonstrate compassion
and humanity by granting clemency to Mr Díaz.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
449
