The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, expresses great concern over the serious news disseminated by Amnesty International about the possible death sentence against 24 Yemeni citizens from the Baha’i faith, including a minor, currently on trial before the Specialized Criminal Court of Sana’a. Protecting religious freedom and the fundamental rights of minorities are a priority in our foreign policy. Italy is strongly committed to the international campaign in favour of a moratorium on the death penalty and to combating all forms of discrimination and intolerance.
The Foreign Ministry follows with utmost attention the issue of human rights in Yemen and is always active in the competent international forums. On this occasion, we have called on the European Union and on the United Nations Human Rights Council to join our initiatives aimed at avoiding that the Specialized Criminal Court of Sana’a pass a death sentence against the 24 Baha’i people. Today, 20 September, at the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, we co-sponsored a Resolution on the situation of human rights in Yemen.
The moratorium on the death penalty will also be the theme of an ad hoc meeting organised within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly that will open in New York next week and which will be attended by Minister Moavero.