28/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU calls for executions to be halted. On Wednesday 27 July, in view of the planned execution of several convicts in Indonesia, sentenced to death for drug trafficking, the European External Action Service (EEAS) spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the European Union, called on the country “to halt all executions” and to consider joining the wide community of over 140 states that have abolished the death penalty entirely or have adopted a moratorium. Fourteen prisoners, including four Indonesians as well as Nigerians, Pakistanis, an Indian, a Zimbabwean and a South African, could be executed this week. The EEAS spokesperson again pointed out that the EU is opposed to capital punishment “without exception” and has consistently called for its universal abolition. The spokesperson affirmed: “The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity”. On Thursday, Indonesia rejected appeals to for the executions to be halted. (CG)