Mussolini Should Have Lived?

Italians may be divided politically on a number of issues, but they’re pretty universally opposed to the death penalty. That also seems to be a bit retroactive. In a recent poll, 51% of those questioned think that Benito Mussolini, former Facist dictator, should not have been executed at the end of World War II. This is slightly less than the 65% who feel Saddam Hussein should also have been allowed to live.

After his execution, Mussolini’s body was taken to Milan and hung upside down from the roof of a gas station.

Italy has recently renewed its call for a worldwide ban on the death penalty.

P.S. If you haven’t gotten enough of execution news and images lately, a Google search for “Mussolini” reveals that someone apparently had a cell phone camera when his body was hung, too.