SHAMS” Center convicts inflicting death sentence by handing upon a citizen in Gaza Strip on November 25 of 2016 by the Court of First Instance. The citizen (Y.B) was accused of intentional murder against the articles of the Palestinian Law.
“SHAMS” Center reminds that capital punishments have been issued increasingly in the Palestinian territories. In 2016 exclusively, and until 25th of November 20 death sentences haven issued, warning of serious consequences. This raise questions about courts procedures and guarantees of fair trials, and influence of the local public opinion on the courts.
“SHAMS” Center emphasizes that death penalty doesn’t solve problems or deter crimes, while resorting to it hasn’t proved its efficiency but escaping from real causes of the increasing crimes and murders in Gaza Strip. We should all assume the responsibility and answers questions raised regarding the causes behind murders in Gaza Strip. Besides, addressing the effects of crimes on the Palestinian community, ways to prevent crimes and searching for deterrent mechanisms.
“SHAMS” Center assures the support and solidarity with families of the victims. Furthermore, the center reminds that calling for the abolition of death penalty doesn’t mean tolerating criminals and people accused of serious crimes but, replacing it with other deterrent punishments respecting human rights and dignity. Death penalty is the cruelest form of willful killing, it is irreversible and doesn’t meet the objectives of the state once implemented.
“SHAMS” Center calls for respecting the efforts and approaches of the Palestinian leaders for the purpose of accession to additional human rights conventions which guarantee right to life. The center also requests that Palestinian National Authority to sign the Second Optional Protocol Annexed to the International Convenant on Political and Civil Rights regarding the abolition of the death penalty. The center also calls upon the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen” so as not to ratify death sentences.
“End”