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PRESS RELEASE
N° 105/10 IACHR URGES UNITED STATES TO SUSPEND EXECUTION OF JEFFREY TIMOTHY LANDRIGAN Washington, D.C., October 21, 2010 - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) urges the United States to suspend the judicial execution of Jeffrey Timothy Landrigan, a beneficiary of precautionary measures granted by the IACHR. The execution is scheduled to take place on October 26, 2010, in the state of Arizona. The IACHR granted precautionary measures to protect the life and physical integrity of Jeffrey Timothy Landrigan on November 12, 2004. The request for precautionary measures had been lodged in the context of a petition alleging the violation of rights enshrined in the American Declaration, based on alleged due process irregularities. Through the precautionary measures, the Commission asked the United States to refrain from carrying out the death penalty until the IACHR had the opportunity to issue a decision on the petitioners' claims regarding the alleged violations of the American Declaration. The Commission is processing the case, which is currently in the merits stage of the proceedings. The failure of a Member State of the Organization of American States to heed a request that it preserve a condemned prisoner's life pending review of his or her petition seriously contravenes its international legal obligations by undermining the effectiveness of the Commission's procedures, rendering any decision by the IACHR on the merits of the case obsolete and depriving condemned persons of their right to petition before the inter-American human rights system prior to the execution of the death penalty. The Commission urges the United States to implement all precautionary measures and decisions issued by the IACHR and demands that it fully and properly respect its international human rights obligations, especially those derived from the American Declaration. In this regard, the IACHR expects the United States to suspend this execution until the Commission can issue a decision on the merits of this case. A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this matter. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in a personal capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.
Useful links Precautionary Measures granted by the IACHR Press Release 63/10: IACHR Condemns Execution of Two People in the United States in Contempt of Precautionary Measures Press Release 35/08: IACHR Condemns the Execution of Heliberto Chi Aceituno Press Release 33/08: IACHR Condemns the Execution of Jose Ernesto Medellin Press Release 22/06: IACHR Condemns the Execution of Angel Maturino Resendiz IACHR Press Office
Read this press release in Spanish / Lea este comunicado de prensa en español
Press contact: María Isabel
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