GENEVA / GAZA EXECUTIONS

UN spokesperson for human rights Elizabeth Throssell said the high commissioner was “deeply concerned” at the possibility that executions might be carried out over the course of the next weeks in Gaza and appealed to the de facto authorities there not to implement any death sentences. (OHCHR)

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:11
• Production Date: 14 August 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: SWITZERLAND
• MAMS Id: U130814b

Description

STORY: GENEVA / GAZA EXECUTIONS
TRT: 1:11
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE; ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 AUGUST 2013, GENEVA

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SOUNDBITE (English) Elizabeth Throssell, Media Officer, Office of the High Commision of Human Rights:
"The High Commissioner is deeply concerned that executions will take place in the coming weeks in the Gaza strip, that is why she has issued this call to Hamas not to carry out death sentences. We are concerned because the Attorney General there said during Ramadan, that after Ramadan the executions would take place. The High Commissioner is deeply concerned about this and she is also calling on the defacto authorities in Gaza to implement a moratorium of the death penalty."
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Storyline

United Nations media officer Elizabeth Throssell read a statement today from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, urging the Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip not to carry out planned executions.

The attorney general in Gaza made several announcements during Ramadan that after the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which have just ended, executions of people sentenced to death would take place.

Serious concerns have also been raised about ill-treatment and torture during interrogations of persons later sentenced to death.

The High Commissioner noted that international human rights law requires compliance with rigorous fair trial standards in cases where death sentences are applied.