UN rights offices condemns Gaza executions

(Vatican Radio) The office of the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) has condemned the execution of three men by authorities in Gaza.

Listen to Peter Kenny’s report from Geneva:

The May 31 executions came despite serious and widespread concerns that international fair trial standards were not respected, and in spite of appeals by many local and international actors to halt the executions.

UNHCR spokesman Rupert Colville said the executions were carried out without the approval of Palestinian President Mamoud Abbas as required under Palestinian law, effectively denying the men their right to seek pardon or commutation of their sentence.

“We remain deeply concerned about further planned executions in the near future,” Colville said. “We reiterate that death sentences carried out pursuant to unfair trials are in violation of international law.”

“We urge the authorities in Gaza to halt any future executions and to uphold their obligations under national and international law to respect the rights to life and to a fair trial.”

The UN rights body called on the Palestinian president to urgently establish a moratorium on the death penalty in line with the global trend, with a view to its abolition.