The European Union has expressed concern over the latest executions in Jordan and Kuwait, reiterating its unequivocal opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances.
A statement issued on Wednesday pointed to the June 21 execution of six individuals in Jordan and recalled that the country had upheld a de facto moratorium on executions and capital punishment since 2017.
The EU said the death penalty violates the right to life and cannot be carried out without violating the right to be free from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
“Capital punishment has also not been shown to deter crime and renders any judicial errors irreversible,” the objection issued by Brussels reads.
The regional alliance encouraged Jordan to reintroduce a moratorium on all executions as a first step towards the full abolition of the death penalty.
Regarding the most recent executions of five people in Kuwait, the EU said it remains concerned about the increased use of capital punishment in the country over the last two years.
The bloc insisted that the death penalty is “cruel and inhumane,” is incompatible with the inalienable right to life, and represents an unacceptable denial of the fundamental right to life and human dignity.
The 27-member bloc declared that it will continue to work for the abolition of the death penalty in the few remaining countries that still apply it.
