Editor TLN
The spokeswoman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday condemned the execution of five prisoners in Gaza and urged the de facto authorities in that territory to establish a moratorium on all executions.
“We call on the State of Palestine to take strong action to abolish the death penalty throughout its territory,” Ravina Shamdasani said of the execution of the inmates.
The five men were executed early Sunday morning, “in flagrant violation of the internal legislation of the State of Palestine and its obligations under international law,” he stressed and specified that “three were convicted of murder and two of “collaboration” with Israel.”
The spokeswoman expressed her deep concern about the fact that “the criminal proceedings that end with the imposition of death sentences in Gaza do not meet international fair trial standards”.
Shamdasani explained that, as required by national law, the approval of the President of Palestine was not obtained, nor was there any opportunity for the executed prisoners to apply for clemency or pardon.
“After ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rightss, under international law, Palestine is obliged to abolish executions,” he stressed.
The closure of Novaya Gazeta, a new blow to the independence of the Russian media
Similarly, the spokeswoman expressed concern about the decision of a Moscow court that annulled the publication license of the daily Novaya Gazeta, a respected national newspaper whose editor-in-chief received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.
The court found that the newspaper had repeatedly failed to meet the criteria set out in the law on foreign agents.
Shamdasani recalled that the Office had repeatedly expressed concern about this legislation and its ability to impede the free exercise of civil and political rights.
“We note that it has often been invoked in a manner inconsistent with human rights law to limit or deny the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, among others,” he specified.
The spokeswoman described the sentence against Novaya Gazeta as “a new blow to the independence of the Russian media, whose activities have been further compromised by legal restrictions and increased state controls imposed following the Russian Federation’s attack on Ukraine.”
In addition, he recalled that any limitation admitted to the right to freedom of opinion and expression must be adjusted to the strict verifications of necessity and proportionality.
“The Russian authorities must refrain from applying measures that restrict information on serious issues of legitimate public interest and allow the debate of diverse and plural voices, in the media, in accordance with international standards,” he concluded.
