– Robert Badinter French minister who abolished the guillotine
– Robert Badinter French minister responsible for ending capital punishment.
Robert Badinter, the former justice minister who played a key role in abolishing the death penalty in France in 1981, has sadly passed away at the age of 95. His dedication to the fight against capital punishment saved many lives and forever changed the justice system in France.
Born to a Jewish fur trader, Badinter’s life was deeply influenced by the horrors of World War II. His father tragically died in a Nazi death camp during the war. As a lawyer, Badinter became known for taking on notorious cases that others were too afraid to touch. However, it was a particular case in 1972 that changed his stance on the death penalty.
One of his clients, Roger Bontems, was executed for his involvement in the murder of a nurse and a guard during a prison escape. Badinter was haunted by his failure to prevent Bontems’ execution, and this experience transformed his intellectual conviction against the death penalty into a passionate mission to abolish it.
In 1981, Badinter was appointed as justice minister in President François Mitterrand’s Socialist government. He wasted no time in making the abolition of the death penalty a priority. France had last executed someone in 1977, and Badinter saw it as a collective shame that needed to be rectified.
With a powerful speech denouncing the “stealthy executions at dawn,” Badinter successfully convinced parliament to abolish the death penalty. He dismantled the myth that the death penalty acted as a deterrent, arguing that great soldiers and sporting figures would not exist if fear of death truly stopped people.
During his tenure as justice minister, Badinter also made history by extraditing Klaus Barbie, the former chief of the Nazis’ secret police, the Gestapo, to France. Barbie faced trial for crimes against humanity and was sentenced to life imprisonment. This landmark case allowed Holocaust victims to testify in a French court for the first time.
Beyond his accomplishments in the justice system, Badinter also worked to improve conditions in French prisons and fought against the discrimination of gays. He served as president of the Constitutional Council and as a member of the French Senate.
Even after leaving office, Badinter continued his fight against the death penalty. He campaigned for a global ban on capital punishment and spoke out against executions in countries like China and the United States.
Robert Badinter will be remembered as a man of integrity and a champion for human rights. His tireless efforts to abolish the death penalty in France and beyond have left a lasting impact on the justice system. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations to fight for justice and equality.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. May he rest in peace..
1. Robert Badinter French minister who ended the guillotine dies at 95
2. Robert Badinter French minister who abolished the guillotine passes away at 95.
