JERUSALEM: Amnesty International yesterday urged Gaza Strip rulers Hamas to halt prisoner executions planned for after the Eid Al Fitr holiday, which is celebrated until Sunday.
“The Hamas authorities in Gaza must halt several executions they say they plan to carry out after this week’s Muslim religious festival of Eid Al Fitr,” the London-based rights watchdog said in a statement.
“We acknowledge the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but the death penalty is cruel and inhuman,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director.
“There is no evidence that (execution) deters crime more effectively than other punishments,” he added.
Those sentenced to death include a 27-year-old known as “HMA”, who Amnesty says confessed under torture to the rape and murder of a six-year-old boy when HMA himself was under 18.
Another, 23-year-old, “FA”, was sentenced in March for “collaboration” with Israel, Amnesty said.
Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya on August 3 said he respected rights groups that campaign against capital punishment, but stressed: “We also respect our own blood, and our laws.”
AFP
