United Nations (UN) experts described the decision to execute a prisoner in the United States by asphyxiation with nitrogen gas on January 25 as “an untested method of execution that could subject him to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and even torture.”
UN experts Morris Tidball-Binz, Alice Jill Edwards, Tlaeng Mofokeng and Margaret Satterthwaite made a written statement regarding the decision to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith with nitrogen gas in the US state of Alabama on January 25 for the murder he committed in 1988.
“PAINFUL AND INHUMANE”
Experts interpreted the method as “an untested method of execution that could subject people to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture.” Experts on execution with nitrogen gas, which is expected to be tried for the first time, emphasized that they are concerned that “it will result in a painful and inhumane death.”
EXECUTION WITH POISON INJECTION WAS FAILED
Experts warned that execution by “gas strangulation” method could violate the United Nations Convention Against Torture, to which the United States is a party, and called for a halt to the execution.
Authorities in Alabama tried to execute Smith using lethal injection in November 2022, but the attempt failed. (AA)
