Sept. 22
IRAN----executions
A man and a Woman Executed on Murder Charges----A man and a woman were executed
in 2 different Iranian prisons on murder charges.
A man was reportedly hanged at Mashhad Central Prison on murder charges, and a
woman was reportedly hanged at Zanjan Central Prison on murder charges.
According to the state-run news agency, Khorassan News, the prisoner at Mashhad
Central Prison, was executed on the morning of Monday September 18. The report
did not identify the name of the prisoner, but identified his age as 29.
According to the state-run news agency, Mehr News, the execution at Zanjan
Central Prison was carried out on Tuesday September 19. The woman was
identified only by the initials N.A.
*********************
Man Hanged, Prison Mates Forced to Watch
On Monday September 18, at least 1 prisoner was reportedly hanged on sodomy
charges at Ardabil Central Prison.
According to close sources, prison authorities forced approximately 50 prison
mates to watch the execution being carried out. Close sources have identified
the prisoner as Shahin Parsajoo, 42 years of age.
Shahin Parsajoo and another prisoner by the name of Tofigh Yousefi were
reportedly transferred to solitary confinement on Sunday September 17 in
preparation for their executions. Close sources say Tofigh Yousefi, who is on
death row on drug related charges, was not executed and is currently held in
solitary confinement.
"Shahin was arrested in 2012 on theft charges, but he was sentenced to death
for committing a sodomy offense in prison," an informed source tells Iran Human
Rights.
Iranian official sources, including the Judiciary and the media, have not
announced Shahin Parsajoo's execution.
(source fopr both: Iran Human Rights)
******************
Increased Public Executions on the Eve of Moslem Holy Month to Intimidate
People
Trying to prevent the public protests by intensifying the atmosphere of terror
and intimidation in the society on the eve of the Islamic holy month of
Muharram, Iranian regime has increased the public executions in various streets
and prisons of the country.
Just between September 12 and 20, 5 prisoners, including a 27-year-old youth in
Islamabad, another prisoner in Anbarabad city in Kerman province, (September
12), a prisoner in Modarres Blvd in Ilam (September 17), a prisoner at the the
Salmas municipality square (September 14), as well as another prisoner in Pars
Abad, Moghan, in Ardebil province, were hanged in front of the public eyes.
Meanwhile, 6 prisoners were hanged in the prisons of Ardebil, Boroujerd,
Khorramabad, Mashad and Zanjan on September 18 and 18. A female prisoner was
among the executed on September 18. On September 19, a 23-year-old man was
executed while he was sentenced to 3 years in prison for robbery, but was
sentenced to death in a new pumped up charge.
The henchmen hanged him along with another prisoner, while their hands and feet
were in the chain. On the order of the criminal prosecutor of Ardabil, about 50
prisoners had to watch the execution scene of their cellmates.
In another event, 13 prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement cells
of Gohardasht Prison since Saturday September 18, for execution.
The Iranian Resistance calls on the international human rights organizations to
urgently and effectively stop the executions of those prisoners on the verge of
death, and insists that the greatest thieves and the greatest killers and
criminals of Iranian history are Khamenei and the ruling fascist gangs, who,
without any accountability, continue their plunder and crimes for the past 38
years. Therefore, Khamenei and other leaders of the mullahs' regime must be
brought to justice for serious and systematic violations of human rights and
collective and arbitrary executions, and this is why their case should be
referred to the International Criminal Court by the UN Security Council.
(source: Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran)
MALAYSIA:
Tahfiz fire: Stop calling for the death penalty, they're minors
The 7 youths held over the tahfiz fire last Thursday cannot be punished with
the death penalty as they are underage, said Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said that the suspects will be tried in accordance with laws such as
Section 97 (1) of the Child Act 2001.
However, if the suspects are found guilty of murder, the mandatory death
penalty cannot be imposed on them, she said in a statement Thursday.
The offenders may also be punished under Section 91 (1) of the Act, which
includes whipping, fines or detention at an approved school.
Police have confirmed that the 7, aged between 11 and 18, were detained for
murder and causing mischief in connection with the fire on Sept 14.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun also said that the
parents of the suspects would not be charged as they had nothing to do with the
case.
Azalina said the incident should be used as a lesson for all parties,
especially parents, in the fight against crime involving children.
"I urge all parties to stop speculating and give space to the authorities to
complete the investigation.
"I believe the case will be brought to justice," she said.
The early morning fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah school resulted in the
deaths of 21 students and 2 teachers.
(source: thestar.com.my)
PAKISTAN:
Pakistan's Army Chief Ratifies Death Penalty against 4 Terrorists
Pakistan''s Army Chief Qamar Jawed Bajwa has ratified death penalty against 4
men convicted in military courts for committing several terrorist acts, today
reported the body.
A statement from the Army's Inter-Services Public Relations said that the
accused participated in attacks, kidnappings and killings of soldiers.
They were involved in the death of 21 people, stressed the text of the military
body.
On January 3, 2015, Parliament overwhelmingly approved the establishment of
military courts to try cases of terrorism after a Taliban commando's attack on
a school a month earlier in Peshawar, which caused over 150 deaths, mostly
children and young people.
The massacre shocked national public opinion and led the army to intensify a
military offensive against that radical organization in areas bordering
Afghanistan.
8 months later, the Supreme Court sanctioned the establishment of these
instances, whose sentences must be ratified by the high command of the Armed
Forces.
(source: Prensa Latina)
*************
Bahawalpur court awards death penalty to 2 in murder case
A court awarded death sentences to 2 murder convicts in Bahawalpur on Thursday.
The judgment was announced by District and Sessions Judge Cahudhry Muhammad
Tariq Javed. The prosecution told the court that accused Maqsood Ahmed and
Arshad had gunned down Muhammad Shafiq and injured Munir Gul during a robbery
bid.
The local police registered a case against the accused and presented the
challan before the court.
After hearing the arguments, the judge handed down death sentences to Maqsood
and Arshad and awarded an additional 20 years imprisonment on other accounts.
The judge also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the convicts.
Earlier, a court awarded a death sentence to a murder convict and three years
imprisonment to two others for their involvement in a murder case in
Faisalabad. The judgment was announced by Additional Sessions Judge Khalid
Saeed Wattoo.
The prosecution told the court that accused Yasir Abbas, Noman, Adnan and Bilal
had gunned down their rival Ali Ahsan over enmity some 3 years back.
The local police registered a case against the accused and presented the
challan before the court. After hearing the arguments, the judge handed down
death sentence to Yasir and awarded 3 years jail term to Adnan and Bilal.
However, the court declared Noman as a proclaimed offender.
(source: The Express Tribune)
CAMEROON:
Journalists face death penalty in Cameroon crises
Journalists in Cameroon are facing the increasing threat of jail and death
penalty for coverage of the Boko Haram terror group and the civil unrest by
English-speaking communities.
The crackdown on the press largely reporting on the government's alleged laxity
against the problems has left journalists too scared to cover such sensitive
issues.
Media professionals arrested under the draconian anti-terror law face military
tribunal and harsh sentences including capital punishment.
Among these is radio broadcaster, Ahmed Abba, is currently serving a ten-year
sentence and could still be executed.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Cameroon was clearly using
anti-state legislation to silence criticism in the press.
"When you equate journalism with terrorism, you create an environment where
fewer journalists are willing to report on hard news for fear of reprisal," the
organisation's regional director, Angela Quintal, said.
The media rights group said despite a presidential decree ending legal
proceedings against at least four journalists, the law that was used against
them is still in place as next year's elections approach.
"Cameroon must amend its laws and stop subjecting journalists - who are
civilians - to military trial," Quintal said.
The Central African country of 23 million people is besieged by deadly protests
by English communities decrying alleged marginalisation by a government
dominated by French-speaking Cameroonians, including President Paul Biya.
It is also facing a terror threat by the Nigerian Islamist Boko Haram radicals.
(source: CAJ News)
LIBERIA:
PYJ promises death penalty
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) presidential candidate Sen.
Prince Y. Johnson says when elected president, anyone caught in ritualistic
killing and found guilty in court will be hung upside down from 6am to 6pm.
The Nimba Senator told a group of Liberians on Wednesday, 20 September at the
Dry Rice Market Community in Gardnerville that under his administration,
security will protect all from ritualistic killing.
The wartime leader of defunct rebel group Independent National Patriotic Front
of Liberia (INPFL), now Nimba Senator Mr. Johnson says under his rule as
president, armed robbers will no longer disturb peaceful citizens because when
they are caught and found guilty, they will be dealt with through the law.
While vowing drastic actions against ritualistic killers and armed robbers,
Sen. Johnson apologizes to Liberians for the role he played during the war that
dethroned and witnessed the murder of sitting President Samuel K. Doe. The MDR
presidential candidate says he was just an instrument being used for
liberation.
Turning to other matters of national concern, Sen. Johnson claims that under
his rule, Liberia will not depend on any foreign aid for development, promising
a new Liberia in which justice will be for all and not few.
He accuses ruling Unity Party (UP) presidential candidate Vice President Joseph
Nyumah Boakai of sleeping, alleging that the UP candidate has worked for 42
years without anything to show.
He believes that what Mr. Boakai could not do in 12 years cannot be done now,
telling supporters that if Boakai wins the October elections, Liberians should
buy a bronze casket and set it beside him because they do not know what causes
him to sleep.
He cautions Liberians that government is not for a family, saying Mr. Boakai's
running mate House Speaker Emmanuel Nuquay allegedly married and has 2 children
by Vice President Boakai's niece.
He further alleges that President Ellen Johnson - Sirleaf and Liberty Party
(LP) presidential candidate Cllr. Charles Burmskine are 2nd cousins. Due to the
alleged family line between the 2, Sen. Johnson claims that Cllr. Burmskine is
not critical on the President???s leadership.
He also fired salvos at the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) candidate
Sen. George Weah, criticizing him for not having a football academy as
Liberia's soccer icon.
Sen. Johnson professes to be the best person for the Presidency, promising good
roads, agriculture development, and better living conditions. He calls on
Liberians not to vote people because they have money, but what they can do.
(source: The New Dawn Liberia)
GAMBIA & MADAGASCAR:
I am really pleased to let you know that Gambia signed the Second Optional
Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at
the abolition of the death penalty on 20 September 2017
(https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2017/CN.570.2017-Eng.pdf
[treaties.un.org]) and that Madagascar ratified it on 21 September 2017
(https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2017/CN.587.2017-Eng.pdf
[treaties.un.org]), together with the Optional Protocol to the Convention
against Torture.
The UN treaty event is currently going on in New York, at the beginning of the
UN General Assembly, and it is a time when states often ratify international
treaties
https://treaties.un.org/pages/TreatyEvents.aspx?path=Treaty/Focus/Page1_en.xml
[treaties.un.org].
Last year, at the same time, Togo and the Dominican Republic also accessed to
the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.
For more information on the World Coalition's campaign for worldwide
ratification: www.worldcoalition.org/protocol [www.worldcoalition.org]
(source: Aurelie Placais, WCADP)
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