Cairo, 14^th of October 2008

 

ACIJLP praises Algeria’s steps towards the abolition of the death penalty

The Arab Center for Independence of the judiciary and the legal profession (ACIJLP) expressed its satisfaction with the preliminary steps, taken by the Algerian government on the abolition of the death penalty and its replacement with alternative sanctions within the framework of the Algerian government's plan on reforms in the justice sector. Thus, Algeria is the first Arab country to take serious steps towards the abolition of the death penalty, which had suspended their implementation since 1993 in addition to Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

This step made by the Algerian government - if it is successful in the abolition of the death penalty – will be regarded as an important step in protecting the right to life, which is the most sacred right enshrined in the principles of divine or drafted laws. International legislations and conventions agreed on pledging not to harm it and banned its violation under any circumstance.

While the Center welcomes this step, it indicates the seriousness of the implementation of the death penalty especially if these sentences issued through criminal trials that lack of fair and equitable trial standards, or through military or extraordinary justice, which are often used to get rid of opponents.

The Center paying tribute to the Algerian Government directions and it calls upon other Arab governments to take into their account the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those persons who face the death penalty which are adopted by the UN Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984. Particularly Article V which states that " death penalty shouldn’t be implemented without a final decision issued by  a competent court after legal process which gives all possible safeguards to ensure a fair trial at least equal to those guarantees mentioned in article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the right of any person suspected or charged of committing a crime punishable by death to have adequate legal assistance at all stages of trial. "

And also to give consideration to the decision of the United Nations General Assembly No. 62/149 in December 18, 2007, which supported the call for a global abolition of executions.

The Center also calls upon the Arab States to reduce in the use of the death penalty and to reduce the number of crimes that are punishable by death, and to replace them with alternative penalties as a start towards the abolition of the death penalty to protect the right to life.