Robert Badinter, who led France to end death penalty, dies aged 95

Former French Justice Minister Robert Badinter, author of the abolitionist law in France, has died aged 95 (Ian Langsdon /Pool Photo via AP, File)

Robert Badinter, who spearheaded the drive to abolish France’s death penalty, campaigned against antisemitism and Holocaust denial and led a European body dealing with the legal fallout of Yugoslavia’s breakup, has died. He was 95.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Mr Badinter, a revered human rights defender and former justice minister, as a “figure of the century” who “never ceased to advocate for the ideas of the Enlightenment”.