The United Nations and the European Union on Friday condemned the execution of a death row inmate in the United States by nitrogen inhalation, a world first.

This execution “could amount to torture,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Friday, AFP and Agerpres reported.

“I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama, despite serious concerns that this unproven method of nitrogen asphyxiation may amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” he said.

For its part, the EU deplores this “particularly cruel” execution, the spokesperson of the European Commission said in a statement.

“The European Union deeply regrets the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama” and expresses regret for this “particularly cruel” method of execution, which “adds to the fact that the detainee was already subjected to an unsuccessful execution attempt in November 2022,” he emphasized. .

The EU reiterates its opposition to the death penalty “under all circumstances,” the statement also said.

On Thursday, in the American state of Alabama, for the first time in the world, a convicted person was executed by nitrogen inhalation.

Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was sentenced to death in 1996 for killing a woman in a hit-and-run of her husband, died in Atmore Prison at 20:25 local time (02:25 GMT Friday) after 29 minutes after the execution begins, the Alabama Attorney General said in a statement.

“Justice has been served. Kenneth Smith was sentenced to death tonight for a heinous act he committed 35 years ago,” said Steve Marshall, emphasizing that Alabama “has accomplished something historic.”

According to the local CBS television station, whose journalist witnessed the execution, Smith’s last words were: “Tonight, Alabama took humanity back a step (…) I go with love, peace and light. Thank you for supporting me. I love you all.”