Hamas must not carry out executions in Gaza

[oberliner]

Amnesty International has urged the Hamas de facto administration in Gaza not to carry out several pending death sentences, after high-ranking officials signalled their intention to execute those convicted of "collaboration" with Israel and "murder".

It is feared that these executions, which would be the first to be carried out in Gaza since 2005, may be carried out in the next few days.

Since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has not carried out executions although its military courts have continued to hand down death sentences after proceedings that failed to meet international standards for fair trial.

"Hamas must not start carrying out executions. That would be a profoundly retrograde step and go against the emerging trend towards a worldwide moratorium on executions," said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.

"It would be especially abhorrent to execute prisoners who, as in these cases, were sentenced to death after proceedings which failed to meet international fair trial standards."

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/hamas-must-not-carry-out-executions-gaza-2010-03-31

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Hamas, unjust war criiminals? Tell me it isn't so.

[LeftishBrit]

2. +1

The death penalty should be abolished worldwide.

[azurnoir]

3. agreed 101% n/t

[ConsAreLiars]

4. The death penalty is always wrong, and the governments that use it are unjust ones in

proportion to the degree that they exercise it. Not the only measure, just one of many.

(edit typo)

[kayecy]

5. At last.... Something Israel and Hamas can agree on......

At last.... Something Israel and Hamas can agree on......They both carry our death sentences (Targeted killing in the case of Israel)