The execution of a prisoner in Alabama using nitrogen gas was condemned by the United Nations human rights chief, who stated that the method could amount to torture. Kenneth Smith, who was found guilty of a murder-for-hire in 1988, was executed on Thursday with nitrogen gas. This marked the first use of a new method of capital punishment since lethal injections began in the U.S. four decades ago.
Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed deep regret over the execution and highlighted serious concerns regarding the novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas. He suggested that this method may qualify as torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Turk emphasized that the death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life and urged all states to implement a moratorium on its use as a step towards universal abolition.
This execution was controversial as Smith had previously survived another attempted execution. In November 2022, Alabama officials had to abort his execution by lethal injection after struggling for hours to insert an intravenous line’s needle into his body. The incident raised questions about the use of lethal injection as a method of capital punishment.
The case has sparked debates about the ethics and human rights implications of various methods of execution. The controversy surrounding the use of nitrogen gas and the concerns raised by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights have added to the ongoing discourse about the death penalty in the United States and globally. The execution has renewed calls for a re-evaluation of the use of capital punishment.
The international community has been closely following this case and the events surrounding it. The condemnation from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights reflects the global scrutiny and concern regarding the execution of Kenneth Smith and the method used. The United Nations remains committed to advocating for human rights and opposing practices that are deemed inhumane or unjust.
This incident has drawn attention to the complex legal and moral issues surrounding capital punishment. It has reignited discussions about the role of the state in carrying out executions and the need for transparent and humane methods of implementing the death penalty. The use of nitrogen gas as a new method of execution is likely to prompt further deliberation and dialogue at the national and international levels.
As the debate continues, the execution of Kenneth Smith in Alabama has become a focal point for addressing broader concerns about the death penalty. The U.N. High Commissioner’s statement has underscored the need for a re-examination of capital punishment practices and their compatibility with human rights principles. This case has become a catalyst for reevaluating the use of the death penalty in the modern world.
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Barbara Lewis)
