ICHR condemns the recent decision of the Military Court in Gaza city to sentence 3 citizens from Jabalia in Northern Gaza to death: Shadi Khader Ahmad (30 years old), Shadi Abdel Karim Almadhoun (30 years old) and Ra'ed Sabri Almakousi (29 years old).
According to ICHR's sources, in its hearing held in Gaza city on Sunday 24 May 2009, the Military court ruled in favor of the death penalty by firing squad of the 3 citizens. One of the accused was present during the judgment while the two others were judged in absentia and thus were considered as escaping justice.
The accused were charged with kidnapping, taking part in and carrying out terrorist activities, as well as deliberate joint murder, based on the provisions of the Penal Code of the Revolutionary Law of 1979.
ICHR insists that the issuance of this sentence constitutes a serious decline in human rights standards and a violation of the basic human right to life and the right to a fair trial safeguarded by international agreements related to human rights as well as by Palestinian laws.
Therefore ICHR demands that:
- This inhuman and cruel form of punishment stop since it violates all international conventions and agreements on human rights.
- Issuing of death penalties cease in the future in line with efforts made by the international community to abolish the death penalty and replace it with another punishment which achieves criminal justice.
