Capital punishment in Europe rights became a particular priority. The Kingdom of Italy had abolished the death penalty for civilians with the adoption of the Zanardelli Penal Code of 1889, but the Fascists had reintroduced it with the 1930 Penal Code. The European Convention on Human Rights was adopted in 1950, but some countries took many years to ratify it. The United Kingdom retained the death penalty for high treason until 1998; however, this technicality was superseded by the absolute ban on the death penalty in 1976. William Joyce was the last person to be put to death for high treason in the UK,
Death penalty in the Bible Rashi says that there must be two witnesses of a murder for a murderer to receive the death penalty, because murder destroys the image of God. Certain sins are punishable by death in the Torah, including idolatry, taking God's name in vain, violation of the Sabbath, rebellion against parents, murder, and adultery. In 1 Kings 18:40, Elijah kills the prophets of Baal. The Talmud explains that, while Elijah himself deserved death for offering sacrifice on a mountain, the mitzvot Elijah had contravened was abrogated. John 8:3-11 records a woman caught in adultery being brought to Jesus for judgment. Jesus does