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Permanent Military Court Issues Three, while the Supreme Military Court Upholds Two Additional Death Sentences:

Al Mezan Strongly Condemns the Sentencing and Calls to Stop the Use of the Revolutionary Penal Code

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19 April 2016 |Reference 24/2016

On Monday, 18 April 2016, the Permanent Military Court in Gaza sentenced I. G., 52, from Rafah district, M. A., 30, from Middle Gaza, and W. A., 41, from Gaza district, to death by hanging after being convicted of spying and cooperating with a hostile state.

In addition, the Supreme Military Court in Gaza upheld the death sentence of N.A., 38, and A.S., 30, both from Gaza district. The accused were convicted of spying and cooperating with a hostile state in contravention of Article 131 of the Revolutionary Penal Code of 1979.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights expresses its deep concern for the continued use of the death penalty in Palestine, despite the universal trend and need to abolish it. Al Mezan does not in any way underestimate the weight of the alleged committed crimes, however, fully rejects the application of the death penalty. Al Mezan reasserts that the Palestinian Revolutionary Penal Code does not guarantee a fair trial, which raises even more concerns since the sentences are irrevocable.

Al Mezan reasserts its principled rejection of the issuance of death sentences. The death penalty does not deter crime, and its application amounts to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment. Al Mezan calls for a halt to the execution of the death penalty as a first step towards abolishing the practice by amending the relevant Palestinian laws to include other penalties. This step must be achieved as a part of Palestinian internal reconciliation.

 

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