Human rights expert welcomes clemency for Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier
GENEVA (24 January 2025) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, today welcomed the decision of the US President to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous activist who has spent more than 46 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
“This is a long-overdue act of justice for Leonard Peltier and his family. He has been unjustly imprisoned for decades, and his release will bring closure to a painful chapter in American history,” said Ms. Tauli-Corpuz.
Peltier was convicted in 1977 of the murder of two FBI agents during a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He has always maintained his innocence, and many experts believe that he was framed by the FBI.
The case has been marred by allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and judicial bias. Peltier has been denied parole multiple times, despite the fact that he has been a model prisoner.
In recent years, there has been growing support for Peltier’s release. In 2017, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found that the US Government had violated Peltier’s rights to a fair trial and due process.
Ms. Tauli-Corpuz said that Peltier’s release is a victory for Indigenous rights and for the rule of law.
“Leonard Peltier’s case is a reminder that Indigenous peoples are often denied their basic human rights. We must continue to fight for justice and equality for all Indigenous peoples.”
The UN Human Rights Council appointed Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz as the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples in 2014. She is an Indigenous woman from the Kankanaey Igorot people of the Philippines. As a Special Rapporteur, she is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity.
ENDS
Human rights expert welcomes clemency for Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier
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