Pakistan Execution About-Face Is Wrong Response to Peshawar Attack: HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called the pending execution of an alleged child offender, Shafqat Hussain, who was 14 or 15 when he was sentenced for kidnapping and killing a seven-year-old boy, "monstrous government response to the vicious Peshawar school attack" in Pakistan.

MOSCOW, December 23 (Sputnik) — The pending execution of an alleged child offender in Pakistan is a response to the Peshawar school massacre, and must be stopped by the government, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in Tuesday's press release.

Shafqat Hussain was 14 or 15 when he was sentenced for kidnapping and killing a seven-year-old boy.

"Sending child offenders to the gallows is a monstrous government response to the vicious Peshawar school attack. The government's apparent aim to execute someone for crimes allegedly as a child is an affront to basic decency, as well as a violation of children's rights," deputy Asia director at HRW said.

According to a statement by human rights organization Reprieve cited by HRW, Hussain was tortured into a confession in 2004. He was then convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to death.

HRW states that there are several hundred prisoners facing execution in Pakistan. On December 17, Pakistan's government decided to rescind a death penalty moratorium "in terrorism related cases." This was a reaction to the attack on the school in Peshawar. As of Monday, six executions have been carried out.

Last week, Taliban gunmen attacked a school in Peshawar, North Pakistan, killing over 140 people, most of whom were children. A Taliban statement claimed the attack was a response to military operations conducted by Pakistani armed forces.