GAZA STRIP COURTS MARK THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY BY ISSUING A NEW DEATH SENTENCE

October 8, 2020:

The Gaza Court of First Instance on 6 October 2020 sentenced to death a citizen (M.A.), Human Rights and Democracy Media Center “SHAMS"/ Palestine reported.
This raises the number of (new) death sentences issued this year to 8, in addition to supporting separate other sentences, according to SHAMS.
This ruling comes on the cusp of the International Day Against the Death Penalty, which comes this year under the slogan " The right to legal representation for individuals who may face the death penalty." 
“SHAMS” Center looks at this new ruling as providing additional evidence that the death penalty applied in Palestine does not even reach the minimum level in providing fair trial guarantees, including the requirement for the president to ratify the rulings following Article 109 of the Palestinian Basic Law. 
“SHAMS” Center calls on the justice sector, foremost of which is the judiciary in the Gaza Strip, to immediately and completely stop issuing new death sentences or uphold old ones, and to respect the value of life, Palestine's international obligations, the Palestinian Basic Law, and the International Day that falls within days.