The European Union has urged Somali authorities to place a moratorium on the death penalty.
Commemorating on the occasion of the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the EU and the Council of Europe declared Friday their commitment to the “worldwide abolition” of death penalty.
In a Press release, EU Special Envoy to Somalia Michele-Cervone-dUrso called for the government to abolish capital punishment.
According to reports from International Human rights organisations, more than 40 people have been executed in Somalia since last year.
He called the government to try the civilians before civil courts instead of the military court.
‘’ The EU Member States Heads of Missions call upon the Federal Government of Somalia to ensure that its civilians are tried before civilian courts and to implement the 2012 UN General Assembly resolution it supported which urges UN member states to establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty,’’ read the statement.
Somalia uses its military court to punish members of al-Shabaab militant group which wants to overthrow the government. But the court has also prosecuted civilians who have been accused of minor cases and later on went to face harsh punishments.
EU being in line with Amnesty International is opposed to the use of capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances and has consistently called for its universal abolition.
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