Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the execution of Mr Afzal Guru in India

Brussels, 11-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, issued the following statement today:

It was with regret that I learned of the execution of Mr Afzal Guru in India on the morning of 9 February 2013. Mr Guru had been convicted of the 2001 attacks on the Lok Sabha. While recognising that terrible murders were committed at the heart of this case and aware of the suffering of the victims and their families, the EU reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty under all circumstances and calls on India to re-establish a moratorium on executions, in
line with the global trend towards the abolition of capital punishment. We support India in the fight against terrorism and look forward to continuing to work together in this area.”

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