Capital punishment in the Southern Indian Ocean Islands

Capital punishment in the Southern Indian Ocean Islands refers to the existence of the in the Republic of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands for a variety of crimes. The death penalty can only be ordered and enacted by the federal government, with an explicit exception for the province of Île Amsterdam. All executions are carried out by firing squad since 1980; prior to that, executions were by guillotine.

Independence (1956 - 1960)
The Southern Indian Ocean Islands adopted the death penalty from the after its independence, using the guillotine.

Execution chambers were set up in the RPS Lorenchet Prison in and on Péninsule Lorenchet, and in the RPS Richard Foy Prison on Île aux Cochons. The guillotine in RPS Lorenchet was known as La grand-mère, the guillotine in RPS Richard Foy as La guillotine qui crie.

Five people were executed between 1956 and 1960:

Second Constitution (1960 - 1982)
Capital punishment was officially enshrined in the Second Constitution of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands under Article 114 for a variety of heinous crimes including rape and murder. Île Amsterdam's independence on the matter of capital punishment was also constitutionally recognised under the same article, as well as under article 7-1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

Article 7-3(1)(a) was changed in 1980, making the guillotine as an execution method obsolete and instating the instead. People who were sentenced to the guillotine before the change were given the choice between the guillotine and the firing squad.

Fifteen people were executed between 1960 and 1982, two of which by firing squad:

Third Constitution (1982 - 1985)
Capital punishment was included in the Third Constitution of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands under Article 114, with the inclusion that the firing squad would be the sole legal method.

One person was executed between 1982 and 1985:

Federal
Federal capital crimes and thus applicable to all provinces save Île Amsterdam are, in accordance with Article 114 of the Constitution of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands and articles 7-2(...)(...) of the Criminal Code:


 * murder
 * attempted premeditated murder
 * rape
 * human trafficking
 * coerce an individual into being trafficked for malicious purposes
 * possession of explicit and/or graphic child pornography
 * treason.

Île Amsterdam
Provincial capital crimes according to the Criminal Code of Île Amsterdam are:


 * murder
 * attempted premeditated murder
 * rape
 * sexual assault
 * inappropriate touching of a minor
 * human trafficking
 * coerce an individual into being trafficked for malicious purposes
 * treason.

Popular opinion and controversy
Several anti-capital punishment organisation, e.g., are attempting to outlaw capital punishment across the world, including the Southern Indian Ocean Islands. Their activities have however had little to no impact on the opinions of the people of the Southern Indian Ocean Islands, a majority of 96% of whom support it.

Both right-leaning and left-leaning parties support capital punishment; the only party to be officially against it is the HuPa, which holds one seat in the Federal Assembly.