The Gambian government must not carry out any executions, and commute as a matter of urgency the death sentences of the seven men — and all death row inmates. They must also uphold the moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

Gambia had not put anyone to death for nearly three decades before August 23, when nine prisoners were secretly taken from their cells and executed by firing squad. Last month Gambian President Yahya Jamme [official website] implemented an "conditional" moratorium on executions as a result of international pressure after the government ended the previous 27-year moratorium with the August firing squad executions [JURIST report], which included eight men and one woman. A few days before executing the nine prisoners Jamme caused an international outcry when he announced [CNN report] that he planned to execute all death row inmates by September. Jamme has stated that the current moratorium will be automatically lifted if crime rates increase.