Citation

Tranchez. J. Genocide Res. 2018; 20(2): 207-219.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14623528.2018.1459159

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Some years after the execution by firing squad of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu on 25 December 1989, it would be the turn of images of Saddam Hussein dangling from a rope, or of the bloodied corpse of Gaddafi in the hands of his captors, to flash across the international media. In a global society where the protection of human rights (in particular the right to life), the neutrality of international law, and the legal immunity extended to heads of state are well established, it seems legitimate to re-examine such events: is it not the case that the right to life, one of the most firmly entrenched of all human rights, protects even the most merciless of tyrants? Can one justify tyrannicide under international law today?

Language: en

Keywords

human rights; immunity of heads of state; neutrality in international law; responsibility to protect; right to life; Tyrant