Brussels, 09/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 9 October, the European Commission deplored the decision of the Afghan authorities to carry out death sentences on six convicted criminals the previous day. While condemning “the heinous crimes” perpetrated, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton reiterated the EU's “strong and absolute opposition” to capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances. “The action is a particular setback in light of the World Day against the Death Penalty” on Friday 10 October, Ashton's spokesperson stated. The European Union called upon the Afghan authorities to introduce a moratorium as a first step towards abolition of death penalty. Five of these men were hung for the gang rape of four women at the end of August. The sixth man, a gang leader, was executed for being guilty of hostage taking.
In its press release, the Commission recalls that it considers the death penalty to be “a cruel and inhuman punishment, which fails to provide deterrence to criminal behaviour and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity”.
In the view of Amnesty International, at least 778 people were executed in 22 countries in 2013. China was not taken into account. In 2013, two people were executed in Afghanistan. (CG)