Geneva / Istanbul: A coalition of international legal and human rights organisations has submitted a formal communication to the United Nations Human Rights Council, urging immediate attention to the continued advancement of legislation commonly known as the “Execution of Palestinian Prisoners Law.”
The communication was addressed to the President and Members of the Human Rights Council and jointly submitted by:
- The Geneva Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Geneva
- The International Justice Forum Against Genocide, Istanbul
- The International Union of Jurists, Geneva Branch
The organizations expressed grave concern that the proposed legislation could provide domestic legal cover for the execution of Palestinian detainees and prisoners held under occupation. They warned that such a measure would represent a serious escalation in the treatment of Palestinian prisoners and would raise major concerns under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The submission notes that Palestinian prisoners and detainees held under occupation are entitled to the protections guaranteed under international law, including the right to life, due process, fair trial guarantees, and protection from discriminatory laws and collective punishment.
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The organisations further stated that the proposed law may conflict with key international legal obligations, including those arising under the Fourth Geneva Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the broader prohibition of racial discrimination and apartheid.
They warned that failure to respond to such legislative developments could set a dangerous precedent, allowing domestic legislation to be used as a shield for actions that may amount to grave breaches of international law.
The organisations called on the Human Rights Council to:
- Publicly condemn any legislation that permits or facilitates the execution of protected persons under occupation
- Urge the United Nations General Assembly to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of such legislation;
- Request relevant UN Special Rapporteurs to urgently examine the legal and humanitarian implications of the proposed law
- Encourage states and international institutions to take appropriate legal and diplomatic measures to prevent the adoption or implementation of legislation that violates peremptory norms of international law
- Reaffirm the urgent need for international protection of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The organisations emphasised that this issue goes beyond the fate of individual prisoners. It concerns the integrity of the international legal system and the protection of civilians and detainees under occupation and armed conflict.
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