Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-25205238-20190123150246/@comment-27794543-20190124054342

That event in itself doesn't say that Shaw is against killing or executions. Nor does it say that he is a human rights activist. It says that he believes it is immoral to save objects instead of people.

His previous military service and his actions in season 5, show that he willing to kill. Since he worked for Eligius, that implies he was okay with forcing prisoners to do heavy labor and using shock collars – which many people today would call "barbaric human rights abuse". He was fine with working for Eligius until Order Eleven, so that is what caused him to change sides.