Spain: Commissioner concerned about the pardon of police officers condemned for torture

Strasbourg, 3/12/2012 – In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, the Commissioner expressed his concerns about the decision of the Spanish Government to pardon 5 police officers who were condemned in 2008 for a case of torture. Stressing that torture and other forms of ill-treatment are serious violations of human rights which should never be pardoned, the Commissioner said that “the authorities should never be lenient to such offences, especially when committed by law enforcement agents. The decision taken by the Spanish government sends a dangerous message as it fosters impunity. I urge the government to reconsider its decision, as it undermines the rule of law and Spain’s international human rights obligations.”

Press contact in the Commissioner’s Office:
Stefano Montanari, +33 (0)6 61 14 70 37 ; stefano.montanari@coe.int

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Nils Muižnieks
is the Commissioner for Human Rights, an independent, non-judicial institution of the Council of Europe, mandated to promote awareness of, and respect for, human rights in the 47 member States

Agenda

 
  • 22-25/05/2013 Visit to Azerbaijan
  • 29/05/2013 Exchange of views with CM Deputies (Strasbourg)
  • 04-07/06/2013 Visit to Spain
  • 20/06/2013 Speak-up! Conference on freedom of expression and media (Brussels)
  • 24-28/06/2013 PACE session
 

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