UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urges halt to Gaza executions – Press release

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES HALT TO GAZA EXECUTIONS

16 April 2010

GENEVA – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday urged the de facto Gaza authorities not to carry out further executions and to abolish the use of the death penalty. During the night of 14 to 15 April, two prisoners accused of “crimes” associated with the occupation of Palestine by the Government of Israel were executed in Gaza.

“I am deeply concerned by the executions, and the possibility that some others might be carried out soon”, said the High Commissioner. “It is extremely disappointing that Hamas has now returned to the use of the death penalty, despite the fact that no officially sanctioned death sentences have been carried out in Gaza since 2000.”

The High Commissioner said she was alarmed by unconfirmed reports that several more prisoners may be executed soon. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has received information that on Wednesday Hamas authorities called the families of a number of individuals sentenced to death, saying that they could make their last visit to their sons. It is believed that the two people who were executed were part of this group of prisoners.

On 24 March, the de facto authorities in Gaza made public the decision to carry out the execution of several alleged criminals. Four days later, they announced that a process to ratify such death sentences had been initiated, notwithstanding applicable law that requires all such sentences to be ratified by the president of the Palestinian Authority.

“I call on Hamas to reconsider its position and exhibit respect for the international community’s firm rejection of the death penalty, to abolish its use in Gaza, and to fully uphold and promote the right to life”, said Ms. Pillay, referring to a widely supported 2007 United Nations General Assembly resolution, which calls for a worldwide moratorium on executions.

Furthermore, the High Commissioner emphasized that under international human rights law,* the right to life is protected, and the use of the death penalty is restricted to the most serious crimes under extremely limited circumstances.

“One absolute restriction is that the death penalty can only be imposed after observing fair trial guarantees in duly constituted courts, which is practically impossible in current circumstances in Gaza”, said Ms. Pillay. “For that reason, I urge Hamas to halt all further planned executions.”

The United Nations Human Rights chief, who strongly supports the clear global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty, said she welcomed the current draft law under consideration by the Palestinian Authority, which seeks to abolish capital punishment.

(*) See for example article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm

Learn more about the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx
Click here to visit OHCHR website: http://www.ohchr.org
OHCHR Country Page – Occupied Palestinian Territories: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/MENARegion/Pages/PSIndex.aspx
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Media Unit
Rupert Colville, Spokesperson: + 41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org
Xabier Celaya, Information Officer: + 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org

For use of the information media; not an official record

HC10/017E