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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
Ref: 90/2005
Date: 28 July 2005
Time: 08:30 GMT
Death Penalty Must Stop
In a serious violation of the right to life, the fifth of its kind in recent times, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has executed a prisoner in its care in the Gaza Strip. PCHR insists that the PNA immediately place a moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty and completely abolish this cruel and inhuman practice.
At approximately 18.30 on Wednesday the 27th of July 2005 the PNA executed Rai’id Khalil al Mughrabi, by hanging. The 32 year old from Jabalya refugee camp was executed in Gaza Central Jail (Sariya). He was sentenced to death in 2001, by Gaza Criminal Court, for the 1998 murder of a 35 year old accountant Khalil Zumlot, also from Jabalya Refugee Camp.
This is the fifth execution carried by the PNA in 2005. On the 12th of June 2005 the PNA executed 4 prisoners in Gaza Central Prison who had been sentenced by civil courts and by the state security courts. According to PCHR’s documentation the number of people executed since the 1994 establishment of the PNA has now increased to 13. A total of 9 other individuals have been killed while in Police Custody, including from extra-judicial executions carried out by gunmen who attacked Prisons and Court Houses[1]. Palestinian Courts have handed down 73 Death Sentences since 1994. PCHR is deeply concerned that this execution will lead to further implementation of the death penalty in the future.
Death sentences which have been issued include sentences issued by the State Security Court which is a Court process which includes summary and secret trials conducted by the military rather then the judiciary. PCHR has consistently called for the abolition of these Courts because it lacks the minimum international standards for a fair trial. PCHR believes that all sentences issued by the State Security Courts should be repealed and those convicted must be retried in the Civil Courts without threat of the Death Penalty.
PCHR welcomes the announcement by the President of the PNA on the 22nd of June 2005 which committed to retry all capital sentences issued in the State Security Courts in the Civil Courts. PCHR believes that it is essential that the PNA President immediately implement this directive.
PCHR insists that the PNA must immediately place a moratorium on the implementation of the Death Penalty which represents a serious violation of the right to life and a severe form of cruel and inhuman treatment. This moratorium must include all Palestinian Courts, including State Security Courts and Civil courts.
PCHR demands that a moratorium on the Death Penalty be a prelude to the immediate repeal of all legislation which allows the Death Penalty.
PCHR rejects the selective implementation of Court decisions and insists that as part of the process of strengthening the judiciary all Court decisions, including High Court decisions, must also be implemented.
[1] These statistics are a correction on the numbers previously publish in English Press Release 70/2005 PNA Carries Out four Death Sentences, 12th of June 2005. the figures published in the Arabic Press Release 70/2005 can be considered to be authoritative.
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