The abolition of the death penalty passed in Chad

The Chadian National Assembly on Tuesday voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty in a country where capital punishment was still allowed for acts of terrorism. The last executions took place in 2015.

The law passed on Tuesday was transmitted to the office of the Chadian parliament six months ago by the government. Justice Minister Djimet Arabi explained that the bill passed on Tuesday aims “to harmonize his country’s anti-terrorism legislation with that of the G5 Sahel countries which do not provide for the death penalty for acts of terrorism.

Djimet Arabi, who thinks that “the death penalty constitutes an infringement of the right to life,” notes that his country is bound to align itself with this majority international concept, which makes Chad henceforth an abolitionist state of the death penalty.

The Keeper of the Seals, who favors a life sentence, believes that the death penalty is not a deterrent. For human rights defenders, in addition to being a surprise, this decision is the result of a fight they thought was lost.

Ahmad Ibedou, secretary-general of the Chadian Convention for the defense of human rights, on the BBC, notes that it is challenging for them to encourage the ultimate sentence even if the condemned man has taken a life. According to him, “human life is sacred”.

The final word goes to President Idriss Déby Itno, who has yet to enact the measure before it comes into force.