MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ban also urged all countries to continue to work for the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances and places.
"It [death penalty] has no place in the 21st century," Ban said on Monday in a statement dedicated to this years's World Day against the Death Penalty. "To be legitimate and effective, counter-terror measures, like all security operations, must be anchored in respect for human rights and the rule of law," the UN chief added.
He noted that taking part in peaceful protests or criticizing a government, is neither a crime, nor a terrorist act and using death penalty in such cases is a severe violation of human rights.
"Experience has shown that putting terrorists to death serves as propaganda for their movements by creating perceived martyrs and making their macabre recruiting campaigns more effective," Ban stressed.
The UN secretary-general concluded by saying "let our actions always be guided by the moral compass of human rights – the most effective route to a safer, more just and secure world."
