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Executing People With Intellectual Disabilities is Clear Violation of International Human Rights Law

9/30/2015Statement

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(Washington, D.C. | September 30, 2015) Santiago Canton, Executive Director of RFK Partners for Human Rights, issued the following statement on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ decision to request that precautionary measures be adopted for Alfredo Rolando Prieto, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on October 1, 2015 in Virginia:

"The execution of individuals with an intellectual disability is a clear violation of international human rights law as well as U.S. constitutional law. Mr. Prieto has not been given a full and fair hearing on the issue of his mental capacity, despite significant evidence that he does indeed have an intellectual disability. The injustice of his treatment is underscored by the decision by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to issue Precautionary Measures ordering the United States to halt Mr. Prieto's execution. In light of this decision and Mr. Prieto's dire situation, we urge the Governor of Virginia to stay the execution until Mr. Prieto's mental capacity has been properly tested under a standard in line with international law and U.S. constitutional law."