DHAKA: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday called for an eleventh-hour stay of execution for Abdul Quader Mollah, a convicted for war crimes charges.
 
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has written to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, HE Sheikh Hasina, in a last-minute appeal to halt the execution.

In a statement last month, the High Commissioner urged the Government of Bangladesh not to proceed with the death penalty in cases before the International Crimes Tribunal.
 
The United Nations opposes the imposition of the death penalty under any circumstance, even for the most serious international crimes.

Two UN Special Rapporteurs, on the independence of judges and lawyers, and on summary executions, have also called for the execution to be stayed.

BDST: 1156 HRS, DEC 11, 2013