Assessing Life Imprisonment Sentence in Light of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights

Jalali, Alireza; Mazhari, Mohammad; Maldar, Mohammadhassan

doi:10.22059/jplsq.2022.347366.3164

Document Type : Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.

² Associate Professor of Public Law, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

³ Ph. D. Student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2022.347366.3164

Abstract

The European Court of Human Rights has, in several instances, equated life imprisonment with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture. Over time, the judges have shifted from a conservative to a more progressive viewpoint, considering life imprisonment contrary to the principles prohibiting torture, as well as inhuman and degrading treatment. In this research, through descriptive and deductive analysis, we will explore the criteria laid down by th European Court's for life imprisonment not to be violative of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These criteria include: the proportionality between crime and penalty, the provision of future prisoner release not only in rules and norms but also in practice, the allowance for parole for those convicted of crimes related to public security, and the prohibition of extradition to third countries that do not adhere to the standards set by the European Court. While these viewpoints undoubtedly enhance the safeguarding of human rights for those sentenced to life imprisonment, they may also pose challenges to the defense of public order in the member states of the convention.

Keywords

Main Subjects

International Human Rights Law

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Assessing Life Imprisonment Sentence in Light of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights

References

References

Volume 54, Issue 3Autumn 2024October 2024Pages 2055-2072

Volume 54, Issue 3
Autumn 2024
October 2024
Pages 2055-2072