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First Third Of 2024 In Saudi Arabia: Executions Rise By 189% And Portend Another Bloody Year. At Least 71 Currently Facing Execution.

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Since the beginning of 2024 until the end of April, the Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia announced the execution of 55 individuals. This figure constitutes a 189% increase compared to the executions in the first third of 2023, which witnessed 19 executions. The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights views these numbers as a clear indication of the Saudi government's continued approach towards executing and issuing death sentences, and that the promises made in recent years have become elusive.

Switzerland also says “No” to Turkey's death penalty referendum

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Following Germany and Belgium, Swiss deputies also declared that a possible death penalty referendum by the Turkish government can’t be allowed to take place on Swiss soil.

Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter spoke with caution on the issue of the death penalty referendum.

The minister said, “If the referendum is on the agenda, we will have to ask ourselves this question.” Burkhalter stated that it is not the time to start speculating yet.

According to newspaper 24 minutes, Swiss MPs put forth a clear stance. Christian Democratic People’s Party (PDC) Chair Gerhard Pfister said: “A referendum on the death penalty would be a violation of the core values of the West. A vote like this needs to be prevented in Switzerland.”

Pfister added: “We need to not allow a foreign government that acts against our values to act like this in our country.”

Socialist Party national advisor Tim Guldimann stressed that such a vote in Switzerland is unacceptable. 

Guldmann stated that Switzerland is under the rule of law and not everything can be put to a vote there, and explained: “For instance, there can’t be a vote to reinstate slavery.”

FIALA: COUNTRIES THAT DON’T OBJECT ARE COMPLICIT


Liberal Radical Party Zurich advisor Doris Fiala gave a warning: “Every European country that doesn’t express its objection to the death penalty in Europe clearly will be complicit with Turkey.”

Law professor Rainer J. Schweizer spoke to the newspaper Blick and said Switzerland should ban voting in such a referendum on its own soil.

Germany and Belgium had also taken clear stances against a possible referendum. 

On Monday, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel declared that they won’t allow voting in Belgium in case of a possible death penalty referendum in Turkey. Michel said: “Allowing such a campaign to take place is most certainly out of the question. We will be uncompromising in this matter.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had stated that they won’t allow voting in a possible death penalty referendum on German soil.

Source: ANF, May 10, 2017

⏩ Related content: Peine de mort en Turquie: «non» à un vote en Suisse, 10 mai 2017

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