SAHR 'vehemently condemns' President's decision to impose death penalty

The South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) organisation has “vehemently condemned” measures taken by President Maithripala Sirisena to execute four prisoners.

Issuing a press release, the rights body said that they had called on the President on multiple occasions to abolish the death penalty over the recent months.

The SAHR pointed out that the government in 2017 had voted in favour of the moratorium on death penalty at the UN in 2017.

“We believe that the President’s decision violates this assurance as well as international law and standards,” a statement by the body noted.

The statement further said that the SAHR body firmly believes that SAHR firmly believes that the death penalty violates the right to life and right to live free from torture or punishments, which have been guaranteed under the Sri Lankan constitution.

“We request the President to immediately halt the decision to implement the death penalty and fulfil the promised human rights obligations and commitments,” the SAHR urged.