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Human Rights Commissioner Kofler on the commutation of death sentences in Bahrain
Bärbel Kofler, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, issued the following statement today (27 April) on the decision by the King of Bahrain to commute four death sentences to prison sentences:
I welcome the King of Bahrain’s decision yesterday to commute the death sentences confirmed by the court of cassation against four men to prison sentences.
The German Government hopes that this act of mercy will be followed by further constructive steps and efforts by all to ensure peaceful coexistence.
Together with its partners in the EU, Germany is campaigning for the death penalty to be abolished and banned – under all circumstances and throughout the world.
Background information:
The court of cassation in Bahrain, the final court of appeal, sentenced four men to death on 25 April. They were accused of planning an attack on the commander-in-chief of the Bahraini armed forces. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa commuted the death sentences to life sentences the day after the ruling was announced.
In January 2017, the death penalty was carried out for the first time since 2010. On that occasion, three persons were executed after being found guilty of attacking police officers.