Aug. 5
IRAN:
UN High Commissioner alarmed at execution sentence in Iran
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on
Wednesday expressed alarm at the imposition of the death penalty on Mohammad
Ali Taheri, the founder of a spiritual movement, writer and practitioner of
alternative medicine theories used in Iran and abroad.
Mr. Taheri was sentenced to death on Saturday by the regime's court on a charge
of "Fesad fel Arz" (corruption on earth).
"Iran's use of the death penalty has long been problematic, with many
executions on drug offences, several executions of people who were below the
age of 18 when the crime was committed, as well as other cases where broad,
ill-defined charges led to the imposition of capital punishment," Zeid said.
Mohammad Ali Taheri "Taheri's multiple convictions on a variety of vague
charges, his alleged detention in solitary confinement and now his sentencing
to death bring into stark focus serious issues with the administration of
justice and the terribly worrying use of the death penalty in Iran."
"I call on the Iranian authorities to immediately withdraw the charges against
Taheri and ensure his unconditional release. For an individual to be sentenced
to death for peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, religion or belief is
an absolute outrage - and a clear violation of international human rights law,"
High Commissioner Zeid said.
"Iran has reportedly executed more than 600 individuals so far this year. Last
year, at least 753 people were executed in the country," said a statement by
the Office of the High Commissioner.
High Commissioner Zeid urged the regime in Iran to "immediately impose a
moratorium on all executions."
(source: NCR-Iran)
*******************
Death sentence for Iranian spiritual leader an 'outrage': UN
The United Nations on Wednesday called for the unconditional release of an
Iranian spiritual leader who was sentenced to death at the weekend after being
convicted of spreading "corruption on earth".
Mohammed Ali Taheri, who founded a spiritual movement and practised alternative
medicine, was sentenced on Saturday by Iran's Revolutionary Court, according to
a statement from the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al
Hussein.
"I call on the Iranian authorities to immediately withdraw the charges against
Taheri and ensure his unconditional release," Zeid said.
"For an individual to be sentenced to death for peaceful exercise of freedom of
expression, religion or belief is an absolute outrage."
Taheri has reportedly been held in solitary confinement since his arrest in May
2011, according to the UN and Amnesty International.
The charges levelled against him include "insulting Islamic sanctities",
touching "non-relatives of the opposite sex", and unlawfully providing medical
treatment, Amnesty said in a report earlier this year.
Taheri, who has attempted suicide and launched 12 hunger strikes while in
detention, was only granted access to a lawyer of his own choosing in December,
Amnesty said.
According to the London-based rights group, Taheri lawfully opened a cultural
and education centre in Tehran in 2006 after receiving what he described as
spiritual messages.
He attracted followers and reportedly conducted healing sessions that
emphasised non-traditional medicine.
Several of his offices were shut down in 2010 and Taheri was detained for more
than 2 months, before briefly being released, according to Amnesty.
In a message posted on Facebook on Monday, Taheri's lawyer Mahmoud
Alizadeh-Tabatabaei said his client "does not deny any of the principles of
Shia Islam and firmly believes in them and observes them."
Taheri told the Revolutionary Court that he was prepared to recant his beliefs
and seek forgiveness if the authorities believed his thoughts deviated from
Islam's teaching, according to the post on his lawyer's unverified Facebook
account.
UN rights chief Zeid said Taheri had since his second arrest been convicted "on
a variety of vague charges".
His death sentence brings "into stark focus serious issues with the
administration of justice and the terribly worrying use of the death penalty in
Iran."
Iran has reportedly executed more than 600 people already this year, the UN
said.
There was no immediate response from officials in Tehran.
(source: al-monitor.com)
PAKISTAN:
Pakistan Supreme Court to hear Christian woman's blasphemy case
The planned execution of a Christian mother convicted of blasphemy has been
stayed in Pakistan after that country's supreme court decided to hear her
appeal. "Therefore, it is necessary that Asia Bibi be submitted as soon as
possible a full medical check-up, including blood tests".
Church of Pakistan Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter of Peshawar pointed out that
a false accusation of blasphemy must be seen as a "state offense" as life
becomes very hard for the victims once they are charged with insulting the
Qur'an or Prophet Mohammed.
Asia Bibi found herself accused of blasphemy after a dispute with Muslim
co-workers who refused to drink the water the Christian woman had provided,
because they considered her to be unclean.
Christianity Today's says that after her appeal in Lahore's High Court was
unsuccessful in October 2014, this is now the last chance for Noreen, the
mother of 5 children, to appeal that her conviction should never have been
allowed, due to inadmissible evidence. She continues to deny accusations that
she insulted the Prophet Muhammad - charges levelled at her by former
colleagues. All too often, allegations of blasphemy are used to settle scores
and take out rivals.
"Moreover, a precedent could also limit the type of allegation that will be
accepted by courts as a potential blasphemy".
The Nation reported that 2 politicians who previously tried to intervene on
Bibi's behalf and called for reforms to the blasphemy law have been attacked.
In early 2011, Pakistan's Governor of the Punjab Salman Taseer and Minority
Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti were assassinated by religious extremists
because of their efforts to defend Bibi and roll back the controversial
blasphemy laws.
If the death sentence remains upheld, Bibi will be the 1st woman in history to
be legally executed under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. A Christian teenager
received Pakistan's 1st exoneration for blasphemy in 2013. Those accused can
face detention, imprisonment and the death penalty.
Chowdhry, whose group has been appealing for Bibi's freedom and has started a
global petition for her cause, told CP that the case is set to be one of the
most scrutinized legal procedures in Pakistan.
Bibi's case is a particularly pernicious example of the negative effects of
blasphemy laws.
If the court rules in favor of Bibi, it could open the door for interreligious
harmony to take place. While hundreds of thousands throughout the world have
called for her release, many in Pakistan have protested against her and said
they would kill her if she were ever released - including the imam in her own
village near Lahore. In April 2012, a Pakistani man accused of blasphemy was
shot dead by religious zealots after he was acquitted and released from prison.
Publicly advocate for the release of Asia Bibi. The Supreme Court has suspended
the death sentence pending an appeal. Asia responded by sharing with them about
her faith in Christ.
"International Christian Concern explains how long the process might take". It
must review all of its blasphemy cases and must act now to repeal these
notorious blasphemy laws which have been used as weapons to target Christians
and others.'.
(source: rapidnewsnetwork.org)
**************
Pakistan hangman: 'My father taught me to tie a noose'
Last year, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced the end of a 7-year
moratorium on executions.
There are currently believed to be more than 8,000 people on death row in the
country.
More than 200 have already been hanged in the last 8 months.
The hangman responsible for at least a quarter of the executions in Pakistan is
Sabir Massih.
He spoke to the BBC's Pakistan correspondent Shaimaa Khalil and told her he
came from generations of hangmen.
(source: BBC news)
PHILIPPINES/INDONESIA:
Complainant vs Mary Jane Veloso's recruiters backs out----The large-scale
illegal recruitment case against Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao
might be reduced to a simple illegal recruitment case, which is bailable
One of the complainants against the alleged illegal recruiters of Mary Jane
Veloso, the Filipino worker who is on death row in Indonesia, filed a statement
withdrawing her charges on Wednesday, August 5.
Ana Marie Gonzales, one of the 3 complainants against Maria Cristina Sergio and
Julius Lacanilao, said in her statement that she will no longer pursue the
criminal case against the recruiters.
According to the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) lawyer Howard Areza, who
represents Sergio and Lacanilao, if the court grants Gonzales' withdrawal from
the case, the charges against his clients will be downgraded to simple illegal
recruitment, which is a bailable offense.
The 2 other complainants were Lorna Valino and Jenalyn Paraiso.
The alleged illegal recruiters are being tried at a regional trial court in
Nueva Ecija. Indonesian authorities are awating the outcome of the case against
them. Once they are proven guilty, the verdict will be an evidence that the
Indonesian court will consider to spare Veloso from the death penalty.
Areza said Gonzales came to their district office in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, and
claimed she did not know that her signed affidavit would lead to a case against
the recruiters.
She also claimed that she was deceived by Mary Jane Veloso's family, thinking
her affidavit was only intended to help Veloso's case in Indonesia, according
to Areza.
"Siguro inisip niya baka makatulong, para hindi mabitay si Mary Jane, gumawa
siya ng salaysay. Hindi niya alam na matutuloy sa demandahan na kakasuhan sila
... na mauuwi sa pagkakakulong 'yung dalawa," Areza said.
(She might have thought that the affidavit would help Mary Jane's case,
preventing her execution. She did not know that this would lead to a trial
which could have Sergio and Lacanilao jailed.)
Areza added that the case against Sergio and Lacanilao was only part of an
"effort" to help stop Veloso's execution and to show the Indonesian government
that the Philippine government was doing something.
The court has yet to consider Gonzales' recent statement and has not allowed
her to testify because it was still hearing the motion for reconsideration to
dismiss the case.
"The statement is already on their records, 'pinapaalam lang namin sa court na
one of the complainants is already withdrawing her case," Areza added. (We just
wanted to let the court know that one of the complainants was already
withdrawing her case.)
The PAO lawyer said they would have to wait for the court's ruling on their
motion for reconsideration before putting Gonzales on the witness stand in
another arraignment.
On May 7, a large-scale illegal recruitment case against Sergio and Lacanilao
was approved based on the testimonies of the 3 alleged victims.
The prosecutors recommended no bail since there were at least 3 complainants,
making the crime large-scale illegal recruitment.
"The recent development will not affect the case of Mary Jane Veloso against
Sergio because her case will be tried in a different proceeding, which has yet
to start," said Areza.
Sergio, Lacanilao, and an African named "Ike," were tagged for allegedly
tricking Veloso into smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia.
The Department of Justice filed charges of illegal recruitment, estafa, and
qualified human trafficking against the 3.
(source: rappler.com)
INDIA:
India's Death Penalty
July 30 was a somber day for India - a day that called into question the
application of the death penalty in a country whose criminal justice system is
stacked against minorities, the poor and those who do not have the backing of
powerful political interests.
On that day, Yakub Memon was executed. The same day last year, Maya Kodnani was
released from jail. Just 3 years ago, Ms. Kodnani was sentenced to prison for
28 years for her role in an attack in Gujarat that left at least 94 people, all
Muslims, dead during riots in 2002. She was also, however, a top lieutenant in
the Gujarat state government once headed by the current prime minister,
Narendra Modi. Mr. Memon had no such political connections. An accountant, he
admitted to playing an accessory role in the 1993 bombings in Mumbai,
masterminded by his brother "Tiger" Memon and Dawood Ibrahim, a Mumbai
underworld boss. The bombings, which took the lives of 257 people and injured
some 700 others, were set off in revenge for riots that engulfed the city in
December 1992 following the destruction by Hindu militants of the Babri Mosque
in the Indian city of Ayodhya. More than 1,000 people died in the Mumbai riots,
most of them Muslims.
Mr. Memon's execution has now set off a vigorous debate in India on capital
punishment. While more than 1,300 Indians were condemned to die by Indian
courts in the decade between 2004 and 2013, only 3 individuals have been
executed. But the sentences reflect huge disparities in the treatment of the
accused in the justice system. A study conducted by the National Law University
in New Delhi, working with India's Law Commission, has found that nearly all -
93.5 % - of those sentenced to death are low-caste Dalits or members of other
minorities. Most are poor. Many are illiterate. Few received adequate legal
representation.
Such gross injustice should weigh heavily when India's Supreme Court receives a
full report on the death penalty expected from the Law Commission next month.
In the meantime, the government should reinstate the moratorium on the death
penalty while India works toward joining most of the world in abolishing
state-sanctioned killing.
(source: Editorial, New York Times)
_______________________________________________
A service courtesy of Washburn University School of Law www.washburnlaw.edu
DeathPenalty mailing list
DeathPenalty@lists.washlaw.edu
http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/listinfo/deathpenalty
Unsubscribe: http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/options/deathpenalty
