© UNICEF/Josh Estey。 一处监狱。 （资料图片）
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today expressed deep regret over the first time the United States used nitrogen asphyxiation to execute a prisoner on Thursday night.
"I deeply regret the use of this never-used, untested method of execution by nitrogen asphyxiation, which may amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," Türk said. ”
brief
Smith, 58, was convicted of a murder for hire in 1988 and sentenced to death by Alabama authorities. After a failed execution attempt in 2022, the authorities decided to carry out Smith's death sentence by nitrogen suffocation on January 25-26 this year.
Last week, OHCHR called on Alabama to halt Smith's executions and to refrain from any other executions using nitrogen asphyxiation.
Died 22 minutes later
Alabama authorities executed Smith Thursday evening with nitrogen asphyxiation. According to media reports, he was officially pronounced dead after 22 minutes of inhalation.
According to the media and other witnesses to the execution room, the prisoner trembled, writhed and twitched violently on the gurney.
Prior to the execution, Alabama authorities reportedly described the use of pure nitrogen as "perhaps the most humane method of execution ever recorded."
Violation of the right to life
On Friday morning, Ravina Shamdasani of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights posted on social media: "The death penalty is contrary to the fundamental right to life. We urge all States to establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty and to move towards its universal abolition. ”
