End to death penalty petition launched in Melbourne

09 August 2009 | 01:58:00 PM | Source: AAP

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Convicted Australian drug smuggler Scott Rush (right) talks to his father Lee Rush (left) through the bars at a court cell in Indonesia. (AP Photo)

It will be an emotional few weeks for the father of one of the Bali Nine, who is embarking on a concentrated effort to abolish the death penalty around the world.
 
Lee Rush begins his campaign in Melbourne on Sunday by helping to launch a petition calling for the worldwide end to capital punishment.
 
Mr Rush's 23-year-old son Scott is facing execution in Indonesia following his conviction for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the country.
 
Mr Rush says the next few weeks are extremely important as he aims to spread the message of ending the death penalty at events in Melbourne and Brisbane.
 
"We need to get as much public awareness out there on this issue," he said on Sunday, hours before he was set to attend the Queensbury Hotel in Carlton for the Make the Death Penalty History event.
 
‘Extremely disturbing punishment’

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Mr Rush said the death penalty was an extremely disturbing punishment that was mentally draining for prisoners and their families.
 
He said imprisonment had taken a great toll on his son's health.
 
"He's not in good shape, waking each day or having to go to sleep at night thinking he's likely to be executed."
 
He added that he still had difficulty putting into words how he feels about the situation.
 
In addition to the petition launch in Melbourne, Mr Rush will be in Brisbane on August 23 for the Australians Against Capital Punishment awareness concert.
 
A second concert will follow in September to support a Nigerian cell mate of Scott Rush - and further events are being planned.
 
Scott Rush has one appeal left in Indonesia, which is expected to take place within the next 12 months.
 

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