[Deathpenalty] death penalty news-----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 19



SAUDI ARABIA:

Death sentence to deter parents from child abuse


The death sentence carried out on a Saudi couple - father and stepmother -
who had tortured and murdered their 9-year-old daughter 2 years ago would
serve as a strong deterrent to parents who abuse their children, according
to the mother.

Nashaat Ahmed Haji and his wife Iman Ghazawi were beheaded for killing
Ghosun, Ahmed Haji's daughter from his 1st marriage. "The punishment was
just and in line with the true spirit of Islamic law," said the mother who
didnt want her name published.

The father, Ahmed Haji, divorced his wife and took custody of the girl.
Then he married Ghazawi. Together the 2 were found guilty of brutally
beating, torturing and eventually murdering the daughter of Haji's 1st
wife out of what judges later determined to be merciless, cold vengeance.
Both Haji and Ghazawi were found complicit in the crime.

(source: Khaleej Times)






NIGER:

French journalists facing execution in Niger freed


Journalists arrested in volatile north for interviewing rebel leaders

Cameraman Thomas Dandois and reporter Pierre Creisson left prison to fly
home

They were charged with threatening state security

2 French journalists potentially facing the death penalty for reporting on
rebel groups in the country's northern desert have been released on bail,
a reporter's rights group said Friday.

Former hostage in Iraq Florence Aubenas joins reporters in a rally to free
2 journalists arrested in Niger.

1 of 2 Paris-based watchdog Reporters Without Borders issued a statement
late Friday saying that cameraman Thomas Dandois and reporter Pierre
Creisson left the prison compound at 6:30 pm local time after posting
bail.

The 2 were heading for the French Embassy, then were scheduled to leave
for France, via Casablanca, on an overnight flight, the statement said.

Dandois and Creisson have been in jail since December 17, when they were
arrested for visiting the country's volatile north to interview rebel
leaders.

They were charged in court Wednesday with threatening state security, a
crime that could bring the death penalty.

(source: Associated Press)






MALAYSIA/CHINA:

UMS to raise RM300,000 for death row ex-student


Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is hoping to raise RM300,000 to pay for
the legal fees of its alumnus, Umi Azlim Mohamad Lazim, who is now facing
the death sentence for drug trafficking in southern China.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Noh Dalimin on Friday said the UMS
Alumni Association has started mobilising the effort to seek donations of
at least RM10 from each of its 15,000 alumni.

"The UMS is also initiating its own effort through donations from the
current students and staff," he said after the launching of the UMS
Journalism Award.

Earlier, he delivered his 2008 policy speech at the Kuliah Perdana.

He said those at the administrative level including professors and
lecturers could probably donate more considering Umi's life is at stake.

Dr Noh said the alumni association has tried to meet with the relevant
authorities and also the Foreign Minister to submit the book containing
signatures of students who supported Umi.

Umi was caught with 2.983kg of heroin at Shantou International Airport on
Jan 19 last year.

Four months later, she was sentenced to death with a 2-year reprieve.

She had pleaded guilty to trafficking the drugs after being employed by a
courier company via an Internet advertisement.

Dr Noh said they believe the 24-year old who obtained a bachelor's degree
in Biological Science from the UMS in Sept 2006, is innocent.

"We think that she has been manipulated by a 3rd party and now paying the
consequences," he said.

According to him, Umi was a cheerful and bright student and was also
active in sports activities and obtained credits in her English.

He said he personally handed the scroll to her during her graduation.

On other developments, he said Deputy V-C (Student Affairs and Alumni)
Prof Dr Amran Ahmad will be visiting the Malaysian Ambassador to Beijing
on Jan 25 to know more about their effort to secure the release of the
girl.

Based on the current situation, Dr Noh said they are confident of getting
a pardon for Umi's death sentence.

Umi's parents, Mohamad Lazim Jusoh and Umi Slaia Ibrahim, had the
opportunity to meet with her in December last year.

(source: Daily Express News)



RUSSIA:

PACE president calls for ban on the death penalty


President of the Parliamentary Assembly Rene van der Linde visited Moscow.
With this visit Linden's 3 year mandate as President of the Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly comes to an end. During this period
cooperation with Russia at parliamentary and governmental levels had been
strengthened, he said.

The PACE leader invited the Russian president to PACE's April session and
called on Russia to ratify the Sixth Protocol of the European Convention
that provides for the ban of the death penalty and the 14th Protocol of
the European Convention. This step would be an important signal not only
to Europe, but also to the US, where the death penalty is not banned, he
said. "It is a mistake to think that the 14th Protocol is directed against
Russia, it is not anti-Russian, it was developed for all European citizens
and Russian citizens, inclusive," he said.

2 presidents also discussed the issue of national minorities and
intercultural dialogue. Linden has opposed the policy of double standards
at the Council of Europe. The position of national minorities in all
European countries must be equal, he said.

Linden also noted that Russia should take into account the critical
remarks PACE made on the parliamentary election while preparing for the
election of a new president. He said it relates to the opposition, access
to the media, and the use of administrative resources. Russia should also
ensure election monitoring by representatives of the Council of Europe, he
said. The official said such measures will make less likely criticism form
the Council of Europe.

According to some opinions, PACE leader attended the Russian capital in
order to alleviate Moscow's frustration over the forthcoming changes in
the principle of rotating presidency of the Assembly. A number of PACE
political groups reached an unofficial agreement in the early 1990s. In
fact, the groups appointed the PACE president once in 3 years on the
rotation principles. This year it was the turn of European Democrats to
appoint the president, and the group considered Russia's Mikhail Margelov
as the eligible candidate.

However, another group, the United European Union, which previously did
not take part in the agreement because of its small size, has grown and
aspired to nominate its own candidate. President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden has said the
decision by the European Democrats group to cede its presidency in PACE to
the Socialist Group does not mean in any way to discriminate against
Russia.

President admitted there are some activists within the organisation that
have long been trying to tie the PACE presidency with certain countries.
He assured the Russian side however, that he would not allow any
discrimination against any country to happen within the PACE. Speaking at
a press conference van der Linden said that if a new rotation system is
adopted, it will have nothing to do with Russia. It will mean that
European Democrats will receive the presidency in 2 years, he said. A
possible change of rules in the election of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe president will not discriminate against Russia,
Chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee, head of the
Russian delegation to PACE Konstantin Kosachyov told press conference on
January 17. "Being the head of the Russian delegation to PACE, I see
absolutely no problems in the signing of a new package agreement. I do not
think that this decision discriminates against the Russian Federation in
any way," he said.

(source: New Europe)

******************

Putin Balks at Protocol to Limit Executions


President Vladimir Putin has again refused to commit Russia to a key
international protocol aimed at reforming the European Court of Human
Rights, a top Council of Europe member said Thursday.

Rene van der Linden, president of the council's Parliamentary Assembly,
also said he "strongly pleaded" with Putin to push for the ratification of
a European protocol limiting the death penalty, but the visitor was
rebuffed on that issue as well.

Van der Linden's trip to Moscow comes at a time when Russia is becoming
increasingly assertive -- and at times, belligerent -- in its policies
toward the West and increasingly defensive about criticism of its domestic
issues.

Disputes over energy supplies, European Union food exports, NATO expansion
and Russia's recent parliamentary elections have led to testy exchanges
between Moscow and some European capitals.

Van der Linden had sought a commitment from Putin to ratify Protocol 14 on
reforming the European Court and Protocol 6, which requires signatories to
restrict the use of death penalty to times of war.

Russia is the only member of the 47-nation Council of Europe, which acts
as the European human rights watchdog, that has not ratified the 2
protocols.

By ratifying them, Russia "would give a strong and clear signal that it
belongs to Europe and shares its common values," van der Linden told
reporters after the meeting.

Russians have been able to appeal to the Strasbourg court since their
country ratified the European Convention on Human Rights in 1998. But the
court has ruled against Russia in numerous cases brought by Russians
claiming they were victimized by the authorities and denied justice at
home.

Russians now file more complaints with the court than citizens of any
other European country; many are Chechens.

Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the State Duma's International Affairs
Committee, said Russia doubted the European human rights court's
impartiality and said it often acted as a "a political tool."

"Some of the court's earlier decisions were not of legal nature," he said.

The proposed reforms would fast-track cases of human rights violations and
simplify procedures for minor lawsuits that do not directly deal with
human rights infringement. Van der Linden said there was "a complete
misunderstanding" in Moscow about the court and the reforms.

The court "is in favor of all EU citizens and Russian citizens," he said.

(source: Associated Press)






KUWAIT/NEPAL:

NAC appeals to Rice and Kuwaiti diplomat to save Dolma


Nepalis Americas Council has sent two separate appeals to US secretary of
State Dr Condoleezza Rice and ambassador of Kuwait to the US on Saturday
for saving the life of Dolma Sherpa who has been given the death penalty
by a Kuwaiti court.

"Although all details about Dolma's alleged crimes are not known publicly,
we urge that the death be commuted, so that Dolma can appeal the case and
follow a due process of law that is transparent and follows the universal
declarations of human rights," NAC, an umbrella organisation of some 27
Nepali associations based in the US, said in the letters.

"We acknowledge that governments have a rights and responsibilities to
bring to justice those who commit violent crimes. However, we believe in
sanctity of life and express our unconditional opposition to the death
penalty for Dolma," it further said.

NAC appealed to Rice to use her good office to ask the Government of
Kuwait to spare Sherpa's life.

Similarly, the letter sent to Kuwaiti diplomat in the US stated that
Sherpa be extradited to Nepal which does not practice death penalty.

(source: Nepal News)