August 1
UNITED KINGDOM:
Families of IS suspects fear death penalty risk from evidence given to US ----
Mother of captured Islamic State member calls for son and accomplice to be
tried in UK jurisdiction
A human rights group has warned the UK against providing evidence to the US in
the case of two British Islamic State (IS) suspects without receiving
assurances that the men would not receive the death penalty.
In evidence given on the second day of a hearing at the Supreme Court on
Wednesday, the human rights organisation Reprieve warned that failing to
receive assurances on the death penalty would set a dangerous precedent.
Elsheikh and Kotey, accused of belonging to a 4-strong IS cell responsible for
killing western captives in Syria, are currently being held in the north of the
country by the Syrian Democratic Force (SDF).
They have been accused of involvement in the deaths of journalists James Foley
and Steven Sotloff and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.
“By abandoning its abolitionist stance, the UK government is undermining its
own efforts to prevent the use of the death penalty across the world," said
Reprieve director Maya Foa.
"Left as it is, this decision will have devastating impacts for people -
including British people - facing execution around the world. Principles can’t
be jettisoned when they become politically inconvenient.”
Lawyers for Maha Elgizouli, the mother of one of the men, El Shafee Elsheikh,
told the UK Supreme Court on Tuesday that they had been informed by prosecution
chiefs that - contrary to what they previously thought - there was enough
evidence for Elsheikh and another detained British IS member, Alexander Kotey,
to be tried in Britain.
Their arrest last year provoked controversy about whether the 2 should be tried
in the UK or abroad - a controversy further compounded when it was revealed
that then Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he would share evidence with US
authorities without receiving reassurance that the men would not receive the
death penalty.
A letter leaked to UK media in July 2018 revealed that Javid told US Attorney
General Jeff Sessions that Britain had "strong reasons for not requiring a
death penalty assurance in this specific case".
Speaking in court yesterday, a lawyer for Elgizouli argued that the decision by
Javid - which they were challenging - would undermine the UK's previously
stated policy of opposing the death penalty.
“Mrs Elgizouli is solely concerned to protect her son from the death penalty,"
said Edward Fitzgerald QC.
"She recognises the enormity of the crimes alleged against her son.”
The High Court ruled in January that the British government had not acted
unlawfully by providing evidence to US authorities in Elsheikh's case.
"There is no general, common law duty on Her Majesty's Government to take
positive steps to protect an individual's life from the actions of a 3rd party
and that includes requiring particular undertakings before complying with the
[mutual legal assistance request]," said Lord Chief Justice Ian Burnett at the
time.
It also dismissed claims that Javid had acted unlawfully by providing
information which might facilitate the death penalty or substantially
contribute to the risk of its imposition.
(source: middleeasteye.net)
INDIA:
Death penalty sought for Unnao rape accused
Members of the local women’s wing of the Congress staged a protest at Samrala
Chowk, demanding death sentence for Unnao rape case accused BJP MLA Kuldeep
Singh Sengar.
City Congress wing president Leena Tapariya demanded that the hearing in the
case should be held in Delhi under the supervision of Supreme Court rather than
Lucknow. She blamed the UP Government for creating “Jungle Raj” and poor law
and order situation in the state.
The car crash in Uttar Pradesh had left the rape survivor critically wounded
and 2 of her relatives dead. Leena Tapariya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi
should come forward to support the victim so that death sentence be awarded to
the accused.
(source: tribuneindia.com)
PAKISTAN:
Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav on Friday
Pakistan has decided to grant consular access to Indian national Kulbhushan
Jadhav in accordance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling,
according to the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson.
Jadhav will be granted consular access on Friday, Dunya News quoted the
spokesperson as saying.
Pakistan has informed the Indian High Commission and is awaiting a formal
response, it said.
The ICJ in its ruling in July put on continued stay the death sentence to
Jadhav by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage.
The court had asked Pakistan to inform Jadhav of his rights under Article 36 of
the Vienna Convention and grant India consular access.
The ICJ in its ruling asked Pakistan to ensure "effective review and
reconsideration of his conviction and sentences".
Article 36 of the Vienna Convention states that when a national of a foreign
country is arrested, he must be informed of the right to have their country's
consulate notified and the right to regular consultation with their consulate's
officials during their detention and trial.
(source: msn.com)
SRI LANKA:
All persons who are against imposing death penalty for drug traffickers are
against the task of building a better country – President
President Maithripala Sirisena says all the persons who are against the process
of imposing the death penalty for drug traffickers, are against the task of
building a better country.
The reason behind all the serious criminal activities like murder, robbery,
rape is the drugs, the President said, adding that he decided to impose the
death penalty for drug traffickers with the aim of building a better country
for the future generation.
President Sirisena made these remarks addressing a religious ceremony held to
present the Scroll to the Most Ven. Galgodagama Sobhita Nayaka Thero for being
elevated to the position of Chief Sanganayaka of Uva Province of Amarapura Siri
Saddhammawansha Maha Nikaya, at the Bandarawela Urban Council Auditorium, today
(01).
The President expressing his views further said that a developed country means
a country not only rich with physical resources, but a country fill with
disciplined and better persons.
The President recalled with honour the great service rendered by the Maha
Sangha since the ancient time to build a country with spiritually developed
people and said that the government is committed according to the policy of it
to fulfill the responsibility of protecting and nurturing the Sambuddha
Sasanaya.
Most Ven. Galgodagama Sobhita Nayaka Thero has rendered a great service to the
society and in recognition of his service the Nayaka Thero was elevated to the
position of Chief Sanganayaka of Uva Province.
The Vijinipatha (a traditional fan) was offered to the Thera by the President.
The Maha Sangha, former Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Uva Province Governor
Rajitha Keerthi Tennakoon, Chief Minister of Uva Province, Chamara Sampath
Dasanayaka and others participated on this occasion.
(source: pmdnews.lk)
BANGLADESH:
8 get death, 11 others life term in 3 murder cases
8 people have been sentenced to death and 11 others to life term imprisonment
in 3 separate cases for murder in Kushtia, Chapainawabganj and Sunamganj.
A Kushtia court yesterday sentenced 5 people to death and 6 others to life
imprisonment for killing a farmer in Kushtia town in 2014, reports our
correspondent.
The victim, Nurul Islam, a farmer, was a resident of Kamardanga village in
Mirpur upazila.
Those who were awarded death penalty are Motiar Rahman, Masud Ali, Parvez
Hossain, Habibur Rahman and Sarwar Hossain, while the lifers are Kabir Hossain,
Fazlur Rahman, Khalequzzaman Bhutto, Mizanur Rahman, Abdus Salam and Enayet
Hossain.
Public Prosecutor Anup Kumar Nandi said both the victim and convicts are
relatives and there had been a feud between them over distribution of family
properties.
As a sequel, the convicts waylaid Nurul near Kamardanga field on December 19 in
2014 and stabbed him indiscriminately, before fleeing the scene.
Nurul died at Kushtia General Hospital the same night.
Later, Nurul’s son Shahinoor Rahman filed a case with Mirpur Police Station
accusing 20 people.
Our Chapainawabganj correspondent reports: A court yesterday sentenced 3 people
to death and 4 others to life term imprisonment for killing a man in 2015.
Additional District and Session Judge Shawkat Ali also acquitted 8 other
accused in the case as charges brought against them could not be proved.
The death sentence awardees are Mehrab Hossain of Baliharpur village,
Jamaluddin of Maheshpur village and Hazrat Ali of Chhoto Maheshpur village in
Shibganj upazila and the lifers are victim Rakib’s wife Sahera Khatun, Mohammad
Mohibul, Mohammad Mitul and Mohammad Aslam.
According to the prosecution, Rakib of Baliharpur village went out for a cup of
tea on March 29, 2015 but did not return home.
A day after, villagers spotted Rakib’s body floating in Mahananda river.
Our Moulvibazar correspondent adds: A Sunamganj court sentenced a man to life
term imprisonment for killing his father in 2009.
The convict is Abdur Rashid of Moinpur village in Chhatak upazila.
According to the prosecution, on May 27 in 2009, convict Rashid locked in an
altercation with his father Shahid Mia over selling a domestic hen and at one
stage, he hit his father on the head with a bamboo stick, leaving him
critically injured.
Critically injured Shahid later succumbed to his injuries at Sylhet MAG Osmani
Medical College Hospital the same night.
(source: The Daily Star)
**************
5 to die for murder in Kushtia
A Kushtia court handed down death penalty to 5 people, and slapped life
imprisonment on 6 others, in connection with the murder of Awami League
activist Nurul Islam.
Kushtia District and Sessions Judge Arup Kumar Goswami handed down the verdict
around 12pm on Wednesday.
Among the convicted - Mohammad Masud, son of Motiar Rahman of Mirpur upazila;
Parvez, son of Ansar Ali; Habibur Rahman, son of Syed Ali; and t2siblings
Fazlur Rahman, and Sarwar Hossain were present when the verdict was read out.
Billal Hossain, Mohammad Manju, Sohel Rana, Ramiz Ali, Motiar Rahman, and Kabir
Hossain were also present among the convicts who have been sentenced to life in
prison.
In connection with the murder trial, Tariqul, Akram, Ashraf, Imran, and Salam
have been acquitted by the court.
According to sources in the court, on December 19, 2014, local Awami League
supporter Nurul Islam was murdered due to a conflict in Mirpur upazilla’s
Poradaho village.
Shahinur Sajib Wazed, son of slain Awami League activist Nurul Islam, filed a
case with Mirpur police station, accusing 19 people for the murder .
Police submitted charge sheets on April 30, 2015, after a full investigation.
Public Prosecutor Advocate Anup Kumar Nandi of Kushtia District and Sessions
Judges’ Court said that the court handed down the verdict as the high crime was
proved beyond reasonable doubt after a long, and exhaustive trial process.
(source: Dhaka Tribune)
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