In July, the US federal government carried out the first federal executions in 17 years. The relentless pursuit of the executions has not only put the spotlight on the flaws and arbitrariness that have long affected the US death penalty system, but has also shown cruel contempt on the part of the Trump administration for safeguards and restrictions established under international law and standards to protect the rights of those facing the death penalty. Amnesty International calls on the US authorities to investigate the July developments and call-off all scheduled executions, as first critical steps towards abolition.
