“SHAMS” center condemns inflicting death by handing upon a citizen “M.K” in Gaza Strip by the Court of First Instance on 12/4/2016, after being accused of killing the citizen Hamdi Abu Sharkh.
The center also calls for respecting the efforts of Palestinian leaders aiming at accession to additional international conventions and treaties which guarantee the right to life.
Also, the center calls the Palestinian National Authority PNA for necessarily sign the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1989, pertaining to banning use of the death penalty.
“SHAMS” center reminds that since the establishment of the PNA in 1994 until 12/4/2014, it has inflicted (174) death sentences upon citizens who committed different crimes (including crimes pertaining to national security). (144) death sentences were issued in Gaza Strip, (30) sentences were issued in the West Bank and among the sentences issued in Gaza Strip (86) sentences were issued in 2007 particularly.
Moreover, since the establishment of the PNA it has executed (33) sentences and 31 ones were in Gaza Strip and (2) in the West Bank. It worth noting that among sentences executed in Gaza Strip, (20) ones were executed since 2007 without the approval the Palestinian President unlawfully.
“SHAMS” center calls for the abolition of death penalty in the Palestinian legislations, since it represents the cruelest willful killing.
Additionally, execution is the ultimate, irrevocable punishment: the risk of executing an innocent person can never be eliminated, and it does not deter crime.
The center also requests launching a widely-spread lobbying & advocacy campaign to support World Coalition against Death Penalty to no spare no effort to eliminate death penalty.
“SHAMS” center appeals to the Palestinian President so as not to confirm death sentences. In addition to use his constitutional authorities towards the abolition of death penalty from the Palestinian legislations.
“End”