UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon joined other global voices objecting to the use of the death penalty in the case of Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, who is currently on trial for ordering police to shoot protesters.
Speaking to the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper on Saturday, Ki-moon said that he objects to the execution of Mubarak, adding that the UN had adopted a resolution that recommends UN member states not apply the death penalty.
On 18 December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a second resolution, for which 106 countries voted in favour, calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
This month, Egyptian prosecutors called for Mubarak to be hanged, saying he bears full responsibility for the killing of protesters during the uprising against him, in a courtroom moment unthinkable only a year ago when Egypt's longtime leader held unquestioned power.
"Retribution is the solution. Any fair judge must issue a death sentence for these defendants," said Mostafa Khater, one of five prosecutors in the case.
France and Germany responded to the prosecutors’ calls to execute Mubarak by saying that they object to sentencing the 83-year- old former president to death.
Russia also said it is concerned by the demand for a death sentence, and asked for humanitarian factors to be considered.
