23/02/2001 Campagna on line THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROME (AP) -Using controversial photographs of American death row inmates, an Italian anti death penalty group launched an on-line campaign Thursday to press the United Nations to seek a global moratorium on executions.Hands off Cain said the petition appears on 10 Internet sites of the Italian portal company, Nexta,com."We hope to give a face and a voice to thousands of death row prisoners around the world, especially those in countries such as China, Afghanistan and Cuba, where we have no accurate numbers on executions" the group’s secretary, Sergio D’Elia, said."Each of the sites features a different photograph of an U.S. inmate, giving their names, alleged crimes and sentences."The images, taken by Oliviero Toscani, were first used last year; in billboards and magazines as part of an advertising campaign by Benetton, the Italian clothing manufacturer.Several U.S, states condemned the campaign. and the department store group Sears, Roebuck & Co. refused to sell Benetton products after protests from victims right groups and threats of a boycott.According to Speedy Rice, a U.S. lawyer who helped Toscani meet and photograph the prisoners the use of the images has a symbolic significance."As long as the death penalty continues to be practiced in the U.S., other countries including many dictatorships will be able to point the finger and say "the Americans are doing it, why can’t we?"’ Rice said.Like other countries in Western Europe, Italy has abolished capital punishment . Italians have been staunch campaigners against the death penalty and have adopted causes of a number of death row prisoners in the United States,i~.the N~t: The petition can be viewed at http:/(www.nexta.com r-lands offCajn is: http:llwww.nessunotocchicainojt(pwm/vls)