Norway calls for the death sentence against Timothy Shaun Stemple to be reversed

Norway regrets the death sentence against US citizen Timothy Shaun Stemple, who is due to be executed in the state of Oklahoma on 15 March.  

“The death penalty is incompatible with the principles of human dignity and humane treatment. We have urged the Governor of Oklahoma to reverse the death sentence,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.   

Timothy Shaun Stemple has family in Norway, and they have also become involved in this matter. 

Norway raises the issue of the death penalty with the US authorities at regular intervals, both as a matter of principle and in individual cases. Most recently, Prime Minister Stoltenberg raised the question of capital punishment during his meeting with President Obama in October last year. The US authorities are therefore well aware of Norway’s strong opposition to all forms of capital punishment. 

Illinois is the US state that most recently abolished the death penalty, which means that a total of 34 states have now done so.  

“A growing number of countries are abolishing the death penalty, and I hope that the US will one day join the vast majority of countries that do not use capital punishment,” Mr Støre said. 

The Government gives high priority to the campaign against the death penalty, and Norway has taken a leading role in global efforts to combat use of capital punishment. 

“We will continue to work actively to combat the death penalty, at the bilateral, regional and multilateral level,” Mr Støre said.