UN condemns Alabama execution that 'may amount to torture'
The UN condemns the execution of Kenneth Smith, who has become the first person in the United States to be executed using nitrogen asphyxiation. A spokesperson for the UN's Human Rights Commissioner raises the organisation's concerns that the "untested method...may amount to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment". Those present at Smith's execution have said he began "writhing and thrashing" after the gas was administered.
Transcript
00:00 We deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama, despite serious concerns that
00:06 this novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, cruel,
00:12 inhuman or degrading treatment. We've been following the reports and there are reports
00:16 that it may have taken up to 25 minutes. It's unclear exactly and he was writhing and clearly
00:23 suffering. Listen, what we said is that rather than looking for novel untested methods to execute
00:31 people, let's just bring an end to the death penalty. This is an anachronism that doesn't
00:36 belong in the 21st century. What we are concerned about and why we're being so vocal on this is that
00:41 we are worried that this will now be adopted as an accepted method of execution. We've already seen
00:49 some other US states that have approved its use and we would urge them not to use nitrogen gas
00:55 to execute people.
00:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]