UNITED NATIONS, March 28 (UPI) -- A U.N. rights expert on extrajudicial killings is seeking action on reported incidents in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria, Russia and the United States.
Philip Alston, an independent special rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions said Wednesday, "In recent years the United States has consistently argued that the U.N. Human Rights Council, and all other international human rights accountability mechanisms, have no legitimate role to play when individuals are intentionally killed, so long as it is claimed that the actions were part of the 'war on terror.'"
He added in a statement that "while this argument is convenient because it enables the United States to effectively exempt itself from scrutiny, if accepted it would constitute a huge step backwards in the struggle to promote human rights."
Alston urged Iran to stop executing juvenile offenders, calling the practice "unacceptable."
"It is time for Iran to demonstrate that its commitment to international law involves concrete action, not just empty words," said Alston, calling on Tehran to "immediately commute all death sentences imposed for crimes individuals committed before the age of 18."
In a statement directed at Russia, he called for an end to extrajudicial killings of journalists.
"Murders are always tragic, but when journalists are being murdered to cover up human rights abuses, the stakes for the society are even higher than usual," he said.
"The government of Russia must bring to an end what appears to be a consistent pattern of failing to prosecute those responsible for these murders and of failing to take the measures required to prevent furthers assassinations of journalists."
Alston said he was looking into other extrajudicial executions in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran and Nigeria.
