UN experts voice alarm over imminent first US execution by nitrogen hypoxia

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - UN experts on Wednesday expressed alarm over the imminent execution of an inmate in the US by nitrogen hypoxia, calling it "an untested method of execution which may subject him to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture."

Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was found guilty of murder for hire committed in 1988, is scheduled to be executed in the state of Alabama on Jan. 25 using the method in which a person breathes only nitrogen and dies from a lack of oxygen.

Noting that it will be “the first attempt at nitrogen hypoxia execution,” the experts said in a statement: “We are concerned that nitrogen hypoxia would result in a painful and humiliating death."

They warned that experimental executions by gas asphyxiation would likely violate the Convention against Torture to which the US is a party.

The experts also expressed regret over the continuation of executions in the US.

In November 2022, authorities in Alabama attempted to execute Smith using lethal injection, but the attempt failed.

The UN experts appealed to federal and state authorities in the US and Alabama to halt the execution of Smith and any others scheduled to be executed in this manner, pending review of the execution protocol.