Human rights group: Palestinians issued 11 death sentences this year

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Palestinian courts issued 11 death sentences this year, a human rights group complained Wednesday. Joe Stork of New York-based Human Rights Watch said this year was the first time since 2005 that Palestinian courts issued death sentences. The group opposes the death penalty. Stork said the surge in death sentences indicates a trend in both governments to ignoring human rights. Most of the death sentences were passed against people found guilty of collaborating with Israel. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has not ratified the death sentences, and they have not been carried out.