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November 14 KENYA: Officers get death penalty for killing colleague, his 2 relatives 2 police officers have been sentenced to death for murdering their colleague in cold blood. Justice Stella Mutuku said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that corporals Benjamin Kahindi Changawa and Stanley Okoti shot Administration Police Constable Joseph Obongo Onchuru at a club in Kangemi, Nairobi 4 years ago. Mr Changawa and Mr Okoti were also convicted of shooting death Mr Onchuru's 2 relatives, Geoffrey Nyabuto Mogoi and Amos Okenye Makori. The court heard that Mr Onchuru, who was attached to former Bomachoge Borabu MP Joel Onyancha, dropped his boss at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on the fateful night before returning to his base at Kitisuru AP Camp. He arrived late in the night and asked for permission to get out and buy airtime. However, Mr Onchuru and his 2 relatives proceeded to M-Club in Kangemi, where they ordered for a drink. But Mr Onchuru was not drinking and he sat alone at a corner. A barmaid got suspicious and alerted the watchman. The watchman approached Mr Onchuru and asked him what he was doing and instead of identifying himself, he reportedly whipped out a pistol. 'ROBBERS' The watchman and the barmaid reportedly overpowered the officer and locked him up in an adjacent kitchen. A supervisor of the club called the police informing them that robbers had attacked them. According to the police, a signal was sent out and the two officers, who were on patrol than night in the company of their colleagues, were told to respond. They were informed to approach the area with caution because the ‘attackers’ were armed. Changawa and Okoti defended themselves, saying they identified themselves and asked the deceased to do the same, but they allegedly defied the order. The court heard that the other patrons in the club lay on the ground when they were asked to surrender, but Mr Onchuru remained standing trying to explain that he was an officer. The officers claimed that a shootout ensued, leading to the death of Mr Onchuru and his 2 relatives. NO THREAT Justice Mutuku, however, dismissed their defence, saying the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting was direct evidence. “Save for the malice aforethought, the evidence in respect of how the deceased met their death is not disputed by the defence,” the judge said. But the duo defended themselves, saying they were on duty and had responded to a distress call. They added that they were told ‘the robbers were armed and dangerous’. But Justice Mutuku said the victims had surrendered and posed no threat to the officers. She said the issue of a shootout did not arise and she was persuaded that the prosecution had discharged its mandate beyond reasonable doubt. The judge said the 2 officers acted beyond their call of duty, and with malice. The two will appear before the court on November 7 for mitigation and sentencing. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority had investigated the matter and recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions that the 2 police officers be charged with murder. Police picked up 3 men as they searched for suspects who planted an explosive. (source: nation.co.ke) MALAYSIA: Abolishing of death penalty is collective decision by Cabinet, says Liew The decision to abolish the death penalty is a collective one by the Cabinet, said Datuk Liew Vui Keong. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said all the ministers would have to accept the decision. "It is collective responsibility where all the Ministers would have to accept the decision made by the Cabinet. "We have to be strong, united and stand firm on the decision that we already made," he said. "At this stage, the decision made on Oct 10 to abolish the death penalty will still stand," the de facto law minister told reporters after a packed town hall session on the issue at UiTM Shah Alam on Wednesday (Nov 14). He said he has spoken to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on this earlier Wednesday who told him that the decision made by the cabinet was a collective one. On Tuesday (Nov 13), Dr Wan Azizah said that the government will reconsider abolishing the mandatory death sentence for those convicted of murder. When asked about child murder, Liew said that they would probably look at it again but not necessarily divert from the decision made. He also said all those who committed murder would be imprisoned for a minimum of 30 years if not their natural life. "They will have no opportunity of getting out of prison. We just want to keep them in prison," he said, adding that there would be no possibility of parole. "The law is very clear, if you have committed a very serious crime. I have instructed the Pardons Board to look into the various prisoners on death row to see how severe the offences they committed were and
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November 13 IRAQ: Iraq court sentences 5 Islamic State members to death The Central Criminal Court of Iraq on Monday convicted 5 members of the Islamic State to death by hanging. The 5 members were accused of detonating a car bomb at an Iraqi Army security checkpoint in Baghdad, resulting in the death and injuries of 13. According to the Media Center of the Supreme Judicial Council in the Rasafa Federal Appeal Court, the alleged terrorists admitted to being members of the Islamic State, performing duties in affiliation with the organization, as well as to the bombing itself. The court convicted the perpetrators under the Iraqi Anti-Terrorism Law, No. 13 of 2005, which allows the death penalty as punishment for convictions of terrorism. The verdict can be appealed and is subject to challenge before the Federal Court of Cassation. (source: jurist.org) SAUDI ARABIA: Urgent Action Update: 12 Men at Imminent Risk of Execution (Saudi Arabia: UA 182.17) The families of 12 Saudi Arabian men sentenced to death after a grossly unfair mass trial fear that their relatives could be executed imminently, as their cases were transferred from the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) to the Presidency of State Security. The families of 12 Saudi Arabian men sentenced to death after a grossly unfair mass trial fear that their relatives could be executed imminently, as their cases were transferred from the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) to the Presidency of State Security. TAKE ACTIONWrite a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet: Urging the Saudi Arabian authorities not to execute the 12 men and quash their convictions, given the grave concerns about the fairness of the trial, and to retry them in line with international fair trial standards, without recourse to the death penalty; Calling on them to order a prompt, impartial, independent and effective investigation into the allegations of ill-treatment; Urging them to immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Contact these two officials by 21 December, 2018: King and Prime Minister His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Office of His Majesty the King Royal Court, Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Fax: (via Ministry of Interior) +966 11 403 3125 (please keep trying) Twitter: @KingSalman Salutation: Your Majesty Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia 601 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC 20037 Phone: (202) 342-3800 Contact Form: https://www.saudiembassy.net/node/2306 Twitter: @SaudiEmbassyUSA Salutation: Dear Ambassador (source: Amnesty International USA) EGYPT: Urgent Action: 80-Year-Old Egyptian’s Death Sentence Upheld (Egypt: UA 193.18) On 24 September 2018, the Court of Cassation upheld the death sentence of Sheikh Abdel Halim Gabreel – an 80-year-old Quran tutor – in one of Egypt’s largest mass trials since 2011. TAKE ACTIONWrite a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet: Urging the Egyptian President to grant Sheikh Abdel Halim Gabreel a presidential pardon to halt his execution. Urging the Egyptian authorities to halt any planned executions, to commute all existing death sentences and immediately establish an official moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty; Calling on them to ensure that Sheikh Abdel Halim Gabreel has adequate and regular access to qualified health professionals providing health care, including access to prescribed medication, in compliance with medical ethics, including the principles of confidentiality. Contact these two officials by 24 December 2018: President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Office of the President Al Ittihadia Palace Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt Fax: +202 2391 1441 Email: p.spokes...@op.gov.eg Twitter: @AlsisiOfficial Salutation: Your Excellency Ambassador Yasser Reda Embassy of Egypt 3521 International Ct NW, Washington DC 20008 Phone: 202 895 5400 Fax: 202 244 4319 -OR- 202 244 5131 Email: emba...@egyptembassy.net Twitter: @EgyptEmbassyUSA Contact Form: http://www.egyptembassy.net/ Salutation: Dear Ambassador (source: Amnesty International USA) IRANexecutions Iran executes 22, alleging links to military parade attack Iran has executed the 22 people it arrested in late September for alleged involvement in a deadly shooting at a military parade in the southern city of Ahvaz, multiple sources told 2 rights groups on Sunday. "It seems that authorities executed all of them on Thursday," one of the sources told Iran Human Rights (IHR). After the executions, the group said, authorities "told the prisoners’ families" of the hangings in Ahvaz Central Prison (ACO) and warned them "against public mourning." Multiple activists also told a 2nd group, Iran Human Rights Monitor (I-HRM), that Ahvaz's Ministry of Intelligence
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November 12 MALAYSIA: Lawyers not convinced death penalty the answer for heinous crimes against childrenMalaysia is moving towards abolishing the death penalty, but a lawyer says it could be retained to punish crimes against children. Rights lawyers who oppose the death penalty have disagreed with a suggestion by Ramkarpal Singh that the capital punishment be retained for crimes involving children. Eric Paulsen said there should be no exceptions to abolishing the death penalty, which he referred to as a “state-sanctioned murder”. Ramkarpal, who is also DAP’s Bukit Gelugor MP, had earlier said that even though he had always advocated doing away with the death penalty, he was in favour of the sentence being meted out on those found guilty of committing horrific crimes against children. His comments came in the wake of the death of 11-month-old Nur Muazara Ulfa Mohammad Zainal on Friday. Police have arrested a couple, after a post-mortem showed the baby could have been raped, sodomised and abused. But Paulsen said it still did not justify the death penalty. “There is nothing to be gained by killing another person even though he or she may have committed a heinous crime,” he said. “All it shows is that we are a society that is bent on retribution and punishment instead of reform and mercy.” However, he said those convicted of serious crimes should be put away with long prison sentences. Lawyer Latheefa Koya, meanwhile, said that judicial punishment should be more about deterrence rather than “cold-blooded vengeance”. “It has been proven that the death penalty does not deter serious crimes,” said Latheefa, who heads Lawyers for Liberty. She said life imprisonment was a more dreadful punishment. “In fact some prisoners prefer to die, than spend their life in prison,” she added. (source: freemalaysiatoday.com) INDONESIA: Bali 9’s Renae Lawrence is set to be released within days after spending 13 years locked up in Indonesia for heroin trafficking - the 1st member of the syndicate to leave alive Bali 9 member Renae Lawrence is set to be released from prison in Indonesia It would make Lawrence the only member of the Bali Nine group to be released She has been behind bars in Bangli jail since 2005 for trafficking 2.6kg of heroin A provisional date for her release has been set for November 21, sources confirm Bali 9 drug smuggler Renae Lawrence is set to be released from prison in Indonesia within days - after spending 13 years locked up for heroin trafficking. The impending release of the 41-year-old would mean she is the only member of the notorious syndicate to leave prison in Bali alive. Lawrence has been behind bars in Bali's Bangli jail since she was convicted of attempting to smuggle 2.6kg of heroin into Australia through Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport on April 17, 2005. The drugs were found strapped to her body - and the bodies of three other drug mules - after the Australian Federal Police tipped off Indonesian authorities. 2 separate sources have confirmed to 10 Daily News that the sole female member of the drug trafficking group will be released from jail by the end of the month, with a provisional date set for November 21. Bali's head of Board Corrections, I Made Badra, told the publication that his team are working with the Australian consulate on Lawrence's release. 'On the day of her release, we'll take her to Denpasar Immigration for her passport and plane ticket,' he said. Lawrence could have been freed from prison in May but couldn't make the $100,000 payment and opted to remain in jail for another 6 months. Fellow Bali 9 members Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were executed by firing squad in 2015, while Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer earlier this year. Lawrence hopes to work when she returns to Australia but believes it may not be easy to find an employer that will take on an ex-prisoner. 'In Australia, it's difficult because we already have the status of prisoner,' Lawrence told News Corp in August. 'If the owner of the company is a kind person and can accept us but that person rarely exists.' She was the only Bali 9 member to not receive life imprisonment and has been making the most of the rehabilitation programs while in jail. Where are the other members of Bali 9? Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 34, - were executed by firing squad on the Indonesian prison island of Nusa Kambangan on April 29, 2015. Tan Duc Thanh was initially given life but was then sentenced to death following an appeal. He died of cancer while in jail earlier this year. 5 others are serving life in jail: Scott Rush, 32 Rush's parents were the ones to tip of the Australian Federal Police stating they hoped it would stop their son from becoming a drug mule. Following his arrest he was sentenced to life in prison and upon appeal was slapped with the death penalty.
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Nov. 11 MALAYSIA: Anti-death penalty advocate says it can be retained if it involves kids Following the deaths of a raped 9-month-old baby and an abused 3-year-old, an MP who has been advocating the abolition of the death penalty now says such punishment should be retained in “exceptional” cases. In a Facebook post, DAP’s Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said that even though he had always advocated doing away with capital punishment, cases like the recent deaths of the 2 children justified the retention of the death penalty. He said the death penalty should be “retained to a certain extent” in cases of gruesome murders, especially those involving children, provided the evidence against the offenders were beyond any reasonable doubt. Ramkarpal was commenting on reports stating that a baby girl in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, died after allegedly being raped and sodomised by her caretaker’s husband. A boy also died after allegedly being abused by his stepfather in Kuala Lumpur. “I also note the concerns of families of murder victims recently that the abolition of the death penalty may send the wrong signal that such crimes are not being taken seriously enough. We cannot ignore such concerns.” Ramkarpal, who is DAP’s national Legal Bureau chairman, said it should be left to the courts to impose the death penalty in the most heinous of cases. “The court will be able to consider each case based on the peculiar facts and circumstances. If the circumstances warrant it, impose the death penalty. “Such discretion will also allow the court to consider any mitigating factors which may favour an accused in sparing them from the death penalty.” Ramkarpal acknowledged that this would not be easy, but those who committed acts of gruesome murders cannot escape the long arm of the law. “The state has a duty to protect such helpless victims and the courts should be empowered to do so.” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong said last month that a bill to abolish the death penalty was expected to be tabled at the ongoing Dewan Rakyat sitting. (source: freemalaysiatoday.com) ___ 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
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Nov. 10 IRAN: Maryam Rajavi wants to end the death penalty in Iran Under the mullahs regime, Iran has the highest execution rate per capita in the world and this has been true for a long time. In fact, last year they came first in Amnesty International’s report on the death penalty in terms of the number of executions overall. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a very real opportunity for us to see an Iran without the death penalty in our lifetime. An Iran that would also be free from corporal punishment, torture, and all forms of human rights abuses. That Iran is the Iran led by Maryam Rajavi and the Iranian Resistance. Time and time again, Maryam Rajavi has made it clear that she opposes the death penalty and would ban it in Iran, along with torture and all human rights abuses. This would coincide with a reformation of the judicial system and the repeal of the mullahs’ Sharia Law. Maryam Rajavi said: “Our plan for future is to put an end to the mullahs’ religious decrees. We reject the inhuman penal code and other abusive laws of this regime. We believe Retribution is an inhuman law. We advocate laws that are based on forgiveness, compassion and humanity.” The Iranian Resistance lives by this code, as evidenced by the actions of Massoud Rajavi - Maryam Rajavi’s husband and former Iranian Resistance Leader – who refused to violate the human rights of thousands of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini’s agents. These agents, who were captured during battles with the National Liberation Army of Iran and killed members of the Iranian Resistance, were released unharmed at the end of the war. Maryam Rajavi advises that this is the enduring tradition of the Iranian people’s resistance. Maryam Rajavi advocates that the Iranian Resistance want an independent, dynamic and free judiciary that will work with a democratically elected government to defend freedom, equality, and sanctity of every citizen’s private life in order to benefit the Iranian people. This would mean: • An end to arbitrary arrests • A ban on torture • Respect for the presumption of innocence • Giving defendants the right to a defence and a defence attorney • Allowing victims of violence or abuse of any sort access to justice • A ban on denying freedoms to individuals based on their religion or lack thereof Maryam Rajavi’s plan for the future of Iran is that all citizens will enjoy genuine security and equal rights before the law. It would be a new order based on freedom, democracy and equality, where people can enjoy lives of freedom and prosperity. Maryam Rajavi said: “We have chosen to persevere and fight on […so] that no youngster under 18 years of age would have to wait in the corridors of death in prison to reach legal age for execution; so that no mother would ever shed tears of grief for her executed child. Our motivation for resistance till victory is not spite and revenge but our love for freedom and human rights.” Maryam Rajavi advises that the Iranian Resistance will fight any battle and sacrifice their lives in order to bring this freedom to Iran. (source: Iran News Update) SOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES SOLDIERS TO DEATH FOR KILLING Somali Military Court has on 5 November 2018 sentenced 2 members of armed forces to death for murder. Mohamed Hashi Wasuge was found guilty of killing officer Said Mohamed Osman on 30th August at a military training center in Mogadishu. 4 witnesses have testified before the court on how Hashi carried out the murder and tried to escape but was disarmed and arrested by other officers. Officer Abdirizack Mohamed Jimale also carried out the similar offense of killing by murdering officer Qeys Khalif Salad in Lower Shabelle base on 27th July. The sentenced ex-soldiers can appeal the case. (source: handsoffcain.info) ___ 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
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Nov. 9 SOUTH AFRICA: Ex-SA colonel returns home after escaping South Sudan death penalty William Endley, the former South African defence colonel, is back home from South Sudan after being pardoned by President Salva Kiir last week after he was sentenced to death by hanging by a court in the capital Juba in February following his conviction on charges of espionage and conspiring to overthrow the government. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Endley said he was enjoying drinking a cold beer and the freedom of being able to move around after being held in solitary confinement for long periods of time. And despite his traumatic imprisonment, in what his family told the African News Agency (ANA) were appalling conditions, Endley said on Thursday he would have no problem returning to South Sudan if asked, adding that Dr Riek Machar, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) had already requested him to return to help integrate rebels with the national army - the reason he said he went to the country in the first place. He was arrested in August 2016 when renewed fighting between government troops and the SPLM-IO broke out after Machar had first returned from exile to take part in a transitional unity government. His defence argued against the charges stating that Endley was only performing his duties as a security contractor to help Machar's forces integrate into the South Sudanese Army. South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011 but plunged into a civil war in 2013 after Kiir accused Machar - then vice president - of plotting a coup against him. The 5-year civil war has killed an estimated 380 000 people and left nearly 2 1/2 million others displaced. (source: African News Agency) LIBERIA: UN Human Rights Committee Wants Liberia Repeal Death Penalty The United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) has reiterated its call to the Liberian Government to abolish the death penalty which was reintroduced in 2008. Addressing a 1-day national human rights consultation held in Monrovia on Wednesday, November 7, a member of the HRC, Margo Waterval said it was unfortunate for Liberia, as a State party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to reintroduce the death penalty in its Penal Code. The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims at the abolition of the death penalty, is a side agreement to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Ms. Margo noted that although no execution has taken place since 2008, the judiciary continues to sentence people to death. Her statement is in line with a set of recommendations that the HRC submitted to the Government of Liberia at the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) meeting, which took place in Geneva in July 2018. The 48-count recommendations, among other things, centered on the abolition of the death penalty, impunity and past human rights violations and the administration of justice and fair trial. The committee recalled that adherence to the Second Optional Protocol requires that Liberia, as a state party takes all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty within its jurisdiction and become an abolitionist country in practices as well as in law. In addition, it petitioned the government to remove any provisions in its legislation that provide for the death penalty and to commute all existing death sentences as well as refrain from carrying out any execution. On impunity and past human rights violation, the Committee called on Liberia to establish a process of accountability for past gross human rights violations and war crimes that conform to international standards, including concerning independence and expertise of the judiciary, victims’ access to justice, due process and fair trial guarantees, and witness protection. The committee: “Ensure that all alleged perpetrators of gross human rights violations and war crimes are impartially prosecuted and, if found guilty, convicted and punished in accordance with the gravity of the acts committed, regardless of their status or any domestic legislation on immunities, and remove any persons who have been proven to be involved in gross human rights violations and war crimes.” For administration of justice and fair trial, the committee recommends that Liberia should pursue it effort to reform the justice system and ensure that all court proceedings are conducted in full observance of due process guarantees set forth in article 14 of the covenant. Meanwhile, during the consultation, the civil society organizations resolved to engage government stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the HCR recommendations. Some of the recommendations highlighted during the consultation included the promotion of gender equality, criminalizing all forms of
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November 8 BARBADOS: New court dates for death row convicts Almost a dozen inmates who are currently on death row at Dodds prison will have to be resentenced once the Offences Against the Person Bill 2018 is amended. That is the word from Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott, as he spoke today during debate on the amendment which seeks to repeal the mandatory death sentence for persons convicted of murder in Barbados. He said the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the island’s highest appellate court, had already ruled that it was unconstitutional. “They are currently 11 persons who are on death row in Barbados and based on this ruling, they will now have to be resentenced because their sentences are now considered by the CCJ to be unconstitutional,” Dr Walcott said. “There are 62 persons awaiting trial for murder and six for manslaughter. If we were not to pass this bill today, it would put our judicial system in a quandary. You would have 68 persons who are there to have trials done and at the back of that, at the end of it all, judges will know that they are confined by the mandatory death sentence, but if they convict someone and sentence them at the end of the day they know that the CCJ has already ruled that that is unconstitutional.” Dr Walcott explained that the amendment was not about removing the death penalty from the statute books. However, he contended that Barbados had signed on to several conventions which clearly state that a mandatory death sentence was not lawful. “I believe that we are in a bind. We have survived over the years. We have discussed and we have utilized our mandatory death penalty and we have debated it. We have made promises to amend it. We’ve made promises to the UN and we’ve made promises to the Inter-American Court of Justice, but I think our reckoning time has now come. (source: Barbados Today) PAKISTAN: Pakistani Christian woman Aasia Bibi 'freed' from jail Aasia Bibi, who spent 8 years on death row for blasphemy, has been freed, her lawyer has said. Pakistani Christian woman Aasia Bibi, who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy, has been freed from jail, her lawyer said. "She has been freed. I've been told that she is on a plane but nobody knows where she will land," her lawyer Saif-ul-Malook said in a message to AFP news agency on Wednesday. Bibi, 53, was flown on Wednesday night to a facility in the capital, Islamabad, from an undisclosed location for security reasons, two senior government officials told the Associated Press. Last week, Pakistan's Supreme Court overturned Bibi's conviction and ordered her release, but she remained imprisoned as the government agreed to allow a review following right-wing protests over the bitterly divisive case. A release order arrived on Wednesday at the prison in the central city of Multan, where Bibi was held, a prison official told AFP. Her husband, Ashiq Masih, had appealed for Britain or the United States to grant the family asylum, while Malook fled to the Netherlands. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman, meanwhile, confirmed that Bibi has not left Pakistan. "Let me tell you that Asiya Bibi is in Pakistan and is safe," Muhammad Faisal said in a statement on Thursday. "I cannot comment on the question pertaining to her lawyer. Regarding the question on review petition, I this is a technical and legal matter." Bibi's acquittal triggered massive protests by right-wing parties, mainly the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), in the Muslim-majority nation. Thousands of people poured onto the streets after the court overturned Bibi's conviction last week, causing Prime Minister Imran Khan's government to sign a controversial deal with the TLP. The blasphemy charge against Bibi stemmed from an incident in 2009, when she was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Female Muslim labourers objected, saying that as a non-Muslim, she should not touch the water bowl, and reportedly a fight erupted. A local imam then claimed Bibi insulted the Prophet Mohammed, a charge she has consistently denied. Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated allegations of insulting Islam can result in death at the hands of mobs. At least 74 people have been killed in such violence since 1990, according to an Al Jazeera tally. (source: Al Jazeera) ** Asia Bibi moved from jail to another part of Pakistan, sources say Asia Bibi, a Christian woman whose death sentence was overturned last week by Pakistan's Supreme Court, has been moved from her jail cell to an undisclosed location in another part of the country, intelligence sources in Pakistan told CNN on Thursday. Bibi spent 8 years on death row after being convicted of blasphemy. Even after her sentence was commuted, she was forced to remain in the same jail due to concerns over
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November 7 MALAYSIA: Malaysia court to resume Kim Jong Nam murder trial on Jan. 7 A Malaysian court on Wednesday set Jan. 7 for 2 Southeast Asian women charged with murdering the North Korean leader's half brother to begin their defense, as their lawyers complained that some witnesses were unreachable. A High Court judge in August found there was enough evidence to infer that Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, along with four missing North Korean suspects, had engaged in a "well-planned conspiracy" to kill Kim Jong Nam. The women appeared somber but calm during Wednesday's hearing. The trial had been due to resume Nov. 1 but was postponed after a defense lawyer fell ill. Aisyah's lawyers made a new application to the court to compel prosecutors to provide them with statements that eight witnesses had given to police earlier. Her lawyer, Kulaselvi Sandrasegaram, said they were informed that one of the witnesses, the man who chauffeured Kim to the airport, had died while 2 Indonesian women who were Aishah's roommates were believed to have returned to their homeland. She said they have only managed to interview 2 of the witnesses offered by prosecutors, while 2 others didn't turn up for their appointments and couldn't be contacted. The witness statements taken by police are important in "the interest of justice" and to ensure that what they say to defense lawyers is consistent with what they told police, Sandrasegaram told reporters later. Prosecutor Iskandar Ahmad said the police interviews are privileged statements and shouldn't be made public. Judge Azmi Ariffin said the court will make a decision on the defense application on Dec. 14. He also set 10 days from Jan. 7 through February for Aishah's defense and 14 days from March 11 through April for Huong. The 2 are accused of smearing VX nerve agent on Kim's face in an airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 13, 2017. They have said they thought they were taking part in a prank for a TV show. They are the only suspects in custody. The four North Korean suspects fled the country the same morning Kim was killed. Lawyers for Aisyah, 25, and Huong, 29, have told the judge they will testify under oath in their defense. They have said their clients were pawns in a political assassination with clear links to the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and that the prosecution failed to show the women had any intention to kill. Their intent is key to concluding they are guilty of murder. Malaysian officials have never officially accused North Korea and have made it clear they don't want the trial politicized. Kim was the eldest son in the current generation of North Korea's ruling family. He had been living abroad for years but could have been seen as a threat to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's rule. Murder carries a mandatory sentence of hanging, but Malaysia's government plans to abolish the death penalty and has put all executions on hold until the laws are changed. (source: Associated Press) EGYPT: Egypt court upholds death sentence against toddler rapist in final ruling The 35-year-old man was convicted of kidnapping and raping the toddler in a village in the Nile Delta governorate of Daqahliya in March 2017 A high Egyptian appeals court has upheld a death sentence against a man for raping a 20-month-old girl last year, a judicial source said, in a final ruling in a case that provoked widespread public outcry. The 35-year-old man was convicted of kidnapping and raping the toddler in a village in the Nile Delta governorate of Daqahliya. The man was arrested on the same day of the incident, which took place in March 2017. The defendant was sentenced to death by a lower criminal court on 1 June after the Grand Mufti, the country's top religious authority, approved the court recommendation of the death penalty in non-binding but legally required opinion. The Court of Cassation on Wednesday rejected the defendant's appeal against the initial sentence, upholding the death penalty. The verdict is final and cannot be appealed. Investigations showed that the defendant, the victim's neighbour, kidnapped the child as she was playing in front of her house in a village in the town of Belqas in Daqahlia, taking her to an abandoned area where he raped her, causing heavy bleeding. The defendant's father was killed by the girl's uncle in June 2017, the same month of the initial court ruling. (source: ahram.org.eg) IRAN: 2 More People Receive Death Penalty For 'Economic Crimes' 2 men accused of “conducting organized and systematic disruption” in Iran's banking network have been condemned to death and others sentenced to prison terms, judicial sources were quoted as saying on Tuesday, November 6. Dariush Ebrahimian Bilandi and Youniss Bahaoddini are also charged in the southern Fars Province with pocketing more than 150 trillion rials
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November 6 PAKISTAN: Only 4 executioners executed 440 death row prisoners 3 out of 7 posts of executioners in Punjab Prisons Department are lying vacant as 4 executioners have executed 440 death row prisoners from Punjab jails in the last 5 years. These condemned prisoners were executed after the rejection of their mercy appeals since moratorium on capital punishment was lifted 5 years ago, The News learnt. Sources informed that the prisoners, who were put to the gallows, included murderers, rapists and high profile terrorists detained in different prisons of Punjab province. Sources in the Punjab Home Department and Inspectorate General of Prison Punjab confirmed that 70 mercy petitions of death prisoners were still pending before president of Pakistan. According to sources in Home Department, many mercy petitions are under process for being sent to President Arif Alvi after their appeals against death sentence were rejected by higher courts. According to an official document, a total of 28 prisoners were executed from January 2017 to September 2018. 18 out of 28 condemned prisoners were involved in crimes of murder, rape and terrorism offence (MC) and were hanged in different jails across the province in 2018 so far. The remaining 10 death row prisoners were hanged in 2017. In 2018, the prisoners, who were hanged in different jails in Punjab, included M Latif and Ilyas from Attock jail, Asif from Rawalpindi jail, Zahid Iqbal from Faisalabad jail, Ramzan from Kasur jail, Shaukat from Lahore, Manzoor Ahmad, Abdul Rehman and Riaz Bhatti from Faisalabad jail, Muhammad Tahir from Sahiwal jail, Nasir Abbas from Jhang jail and Sher Ali from Bahawalpur. In 2017, the death row prisoners were hanged in different jails of Punjab, included Tariq Iqbal from Multan jail, Shamshad from Faisalabad jail, Yaqoob, Ghulam Rasool and Imran, who were hanged on same day, at Sargodha jail. The executed prisoners included Qaisar Shah from Gujranwala, Dr Usman, involved in blast, was from Faisalabad jail. Hardcore terrorists, including Qaisar Khan, Muhammad Umar and other were also hanged. Barkat Ali, Muhammad Adil and another hardcore terrorist were hanged in Rawalpindi, Hazoor Bakhsh from Dera Ghazi Khan jail, Ilyas from Faisalabad jail, Fazal Haq and Shahid Umar from Sahiwal jail, Gulzar from Gujranwala, Muhammad Zaman, Shawaly and Said from Sahiwal, Mansha and Salman from Lahore and Naveed Hussain from Adiala were hanged. (source: The International News) IRAN: Iran to execute two Kurdish women on adultery charges An Iranian court recently sentenced to death 2 Kurdish women on adultery charges, a Kurdish rights group reported on Monday. “A Kurdish woman for Mako by the name of Gulistan Jnikanlou was sentenced to death by the Khoy Criminal Court of West Azerbaijan Province, accused of committing zina,” reported Hengaw, a group which writes on human rights violations involving Kurds in Iran. “Zina” is an Arabic term, meaning acts of sexual intercourse prohibited by Islamic law. The court announced its decision on Sunday. Jnikanlou, a mother of two children, was arrested on allegations of committing adultery in 2017. She was released on bail shortly thereafter. In the same year, local authorities also arrested a man with whom they claimed Jnikanlou had intercourse. The man’s fate is yet unknown. The punishments Iran hands out according to what the government considers to be criminal acts have long been criticized by the international community as well as rights groups. The Khoy Criminal Court also sentenced to death another woman, 37-year-old Zahra Derakhshani. She has been in prison for the past two years awaiting trial. Both women were arrested on accusations their husbands made. For both men and women, Iran’s penal code considers adultery to be a “crime against God,” punishable by 100 lashes for unmarried individuals, according to a UNHCR investigation into the country’s laws. Married offenders are sentenced to death by stoning. Cases of adultery must be proven either by a repeated confession by the defendant or by the testimony of witnesses – four men or three men and two women. However, in Hodud (morality) crimes such as adultery, the Islamic Republic’s penal code gives judges the authority to use their own “knowledge” to arrive at a verdict in cases lacking substantive evidence. The Penal Code also permits a husband to kill his wife and her lover, if he caught them in the act. (source: kurdistan24.net) ISRAEL: Israel lawmakers to debate death penalty for Palestinian 'terrorists'Palestinians have warned that new death penalty will be aimed at political prisoners Israel's parliament will renew debate next week on a bill that would make it easier to sentence Palestinian attackers to death, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Tuesday while vowing to have it passed. "After over three years of a stubborn
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November 5 IRAQ: Iraq to hang man seen gunning down Babylon passport director in video An Iraqi court on Sunday sentenced to death one of the assassins of the head of the Passport Directorate of Babylon (Babil) province, Commander Safa al-Dulaimi. In late-June, a group of gunmen intercepted the director’s vehicle and killed him with machine gun fire. Shortly after, Iraqi security authorities claimed to have arrested the commander’s assassins. However, the fate of the other detainees is yet unknown. About 2 weeks ago, local police forces in Babil said a sticky bomb exploded under the car of an officer who was assigned to investigate Dulaimi’s case. The officer survived the attack. The officer in charge played “a significant role in uncovering the circumstances of the assassination of” the commander, the police noted. “The Criminal Court of Babil has issued a verdict after reviewing the case of the man accused of killing passport director in the province and sentenced him to death,” the Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement. The statement added that “the court found that the evidence obtained, including surveillance cameras and confessions, during the investigations are sufficient to criminalize the accused and issued its decision to hang him until dead in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of the anti-terrorism law.” Different human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly expressed their concerns about the rising number of death sentences in Iraq. Aside from their condemnation, the organizations warn Iraqi authorities’ efforts to escalate the implementation of death sentences could lead to the execution of innocent people. (source: kurdistan24.net) IRANexecution Man Hanged at Ardakan Prison A prisoner was executed on a murder charge at Ardakan Prison on Saturday, November 3. According to HRANA, Sami’ Mohtarami, 43, was convicted to qisas (retribution in kind) on a murder charge. He killed a person during a car robbery in 2015. The victim’s family agreed to forgive Sami’ in the condition of receiving Diya. Diya in Islamic law (Sharia) is a financial compensation paid to heirs of a victim to thus avoid a retaliation punishment. However, Sami’ was a poor man and could not pay the amount. Therefore, his execution was carried out on the morning on Sunday, November 3, 2018. The Penal Code of Iran does not specifically state that convicted murderers are subject to the death penalty, but rather to “qisas” which means “retribution in kind” or retaliation. In this way, the State effectively puts the responsibility for executions for murder on the shoulders of the victim’s family. The Iranian media outlets have not published news related to the aforementioned execution so far. According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the 517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges. There is a lack of a classification of murder by degree in Iran which results in issuing a death sentence for any kind of murder regardless of intensity and intent. (source: Iran Human Rights) PAKISTAN: Asia Bibi stuck in Pakistani prison over death fears A Pakistani Christian woman whose death sentence for blasphemy charges was commuted last week is trapped in a prison that has been converted into a safe house, a source with direct knowledge of the facility told CNN on Monday. Asia Bibi, a mother of 5 from Punjab province, is unable to leave the facility over fears that her life is in jeopardy, the source added. In newly released details, CNN has learned that the Pakistani army and intelligence services have jurisdiction over the jail and are in charge of her safety, the source said. Extra surveillance cameras have been installed at the converted jail in recent days and any individuals entering or leaving the location are searched, including those who are charged with preparing Bibi's food, according to the police source. On Sunday, Bibi's lawyer was reported to have fled the country in fear for his life, according to an associate. His departure comes as Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, begged the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada to grant his family asylum, in a video message seen by the Guardian. Bibi was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 and sentenced to hang after she was accused of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed during an argument a year earlier with Muslim colleagues. The workers had refused to drink from a bucket of water Bibi had touched because she was not Muslim. At the time, Bibi said the case was a matter of women who didn't like her "taking revenge." On Wednesday, she won her appeal against the conviction and death sentence. Bibi's acquittal prompted violent demonstrations by the Islamist movement Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). In an effort to end the protests, the government on Friday struck a deal with
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November 4 MALAYSIA: Malaysia should abolish the death penalty entirely without delay The recent announcement by the Malaysian government to abolish the death penalty has received divisive responses – on one hand, it was hailed by human rights advocates but on the other, it seems to be opposed by the general Malaysian public. Even though there are many voices in urging the government to review this move and to listen to views of the majority of the people, the government shouldabolish the death penalty in its totality and it should be abolished now. This is because the death penalty goes against the most basic and fundamental right – the right to life. And in fact, we were already late in this as there are 106 countries which have abolished the death penalty. Death penalty and deterrence Many have argued that by doing away with death penalty, we will see the rise in crimes, especially heinous crimes like murder. However, studies after studies have shown that death penalty does not deter crimes more effectively than prison sentence. In fact, they reveal otherwise. According to Amnesty International, Canada since abolishing the death penalty in 1976, its murder rate has steadily declined and as of 2016 was at its lowest since 1966. A study conducted in 2008 in the United States which was published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology further found that 88 per cent of the nation’s leading criminologists do not believe that death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime. Back to Malaysia, we have had death penalty for drug offences since 1975 and in 1983, we even made it mandatory for drug trafficking. The question is, was it effective? For us to say that by abolishing the death penalty would result in the increase of serious crimes would therefore be too simplistic and would in fact blind us from other more relevant factors and causes of such crimes. Justice for victims and families Others have argued that justice will only be served if those criminals especially murderers were being put to death for taking the lives of others. For those advocating for the abolition of death penalty would often be asked the question “What if it was your loved one being killed or raped?”. In all honesty, the very first answer or reaction that came to mind for most people, if not all, would probably be for the murderers or rapists to be killed! In fact, the late Karpal Singh who was a leading opponent of death penalty has once suggested for child rapists to be sentenced to death. The topic of death penalty is indeed a difficult one as it cannot be debated without involving emotions. Only those victims and their families would be able to understand the pain and sufferings. However, if we were to look at this again rationally, we will realise thatwhat we are actually talking about is not justice but mere vengeance. Wanting to seek for vengeance can be understood but cannot and should not be accepted and be made into a policy of a civilised society. If we are going to live in a society of “an eye for an eye” by imposing death on murderers who took the lives of our loved ones away, are we then going to rape the rapists, assault those who have assaulted us and so forth? And if for any reason, a murderer managed to escape the law, are we then going to condone extrajudicial killing just so “justice” is served? Wrongful convictions We have to accept that no one and no system in world is perfect and not infallible. If a study in 2014 is right, then at least 4.1 per cent of all people who receive the death penalty in the United States are innocent. Even if one were to argue that the United States’ justice system is different than Malaysia’s and our justice system is better, then let us not forget Malaysia’s classic case of S. Karthigesu, who was probably the lucky amongst the unlucky ones. Therefore, even if we are going on with the assumption that our rate of wrongful convictions is merely 1 per cent, it will still mean that there would probably be at least 12 out of the 1267 inmates currently on the death row are innocent. And that is only on the assumption that the rate is 1 per cent and it does not include those who have been executed. The death penalty has to be abolished in its entirety because by doing away with mandatory death penalty alone but retaining discretionary death penalty would not totally eliminate the possibility of innocent people being sent to the gallows as it would at its best reduce the number. The thought of having even one innocent person who could be wrongly executed should make us feel sick. If not, then we might be no different than those murderers whom we condemned as we are allowing innocent persons to be killed. Remember, that one person is also someone’s parent, child, sibling, spouse, relative or friend. And that one person could be our loved ones. When we talk about “justice” for the victims and their
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Nov. 3 IRAN: A Female Prisoner Sentenced to Death for Adultery A female prisoner detained in Khoy Prison, who was arrested on November 2016, was accused of adultery (sex outside marriage) after being sued by her husband and has been sentenced to death by the Criminal Court (Branch 1). This prisoner has been identified as Zahra Derakhshani, born in 1982, married and a resident of Khoy. She was arrested with another citizen from Khoy on November 2016, on charges of adultery. An informed source has told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that the husband of this prisoner, a veteran and a member of the Basij, has been present at the court hearing as a private plaintiff in the case. However, despite the fact that neither of the above 2 people have accepted the adultery charge and the Forensic Medicine Bureau has also rejected any sexual relationship between them, Judge Ali Hassanzadeh (the head of the Criminal Court/branch 1, who is also the chairman of the justice of the city of Khoy) has found them guilty of adultery solely based on what he has called as “Judge’s knowledge” and sentenced the female prisoner to death after she has spent a year in prison. The source further said that the man arrested along with Zahra Derakhshani was later released on bail and the Derakhshani case was referred to the Supreme Court after her lawyer appealed. However, the Supreme Court has not issued a verdict yet. It is worth mentioning that Derakhshani is currently imprisoned in women’s ward of Khoy prison. (source: kurdistanhumanrights.net) SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi execution spotlights domestic workers' vulnerable lives Saudi Arabia's decision to execute an Indonesian domestic worker has triggered a diplomatic row between the 2 nations. The maid's case highlights the dangers faced by foreign workers in Saudi households. The execution of an Indonesian domestic worker by Saudi authorities this week without even informing her family and consular staff drew strong condemnation from Indonesian officials. Tuti Tursilawati was executed on Monday in the city of Thaif, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry announced, seven years after she was sentenced to death in connection with a murder. News agencies Reuters and AFP reported that Tursilawati was found guilty of killing her employer in June 2011. Indonesian advocacy group Migrant Care was quoted as saying in September that Tursilawati had been defending herself from being raped. But the director for overseas citizen protection at Indonesia's foreign ministry, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, was quoted by The Jakarta Post as saying that Tursilawati did not commit the murder in self-defense against attempted rape. "It is true that Tuti had been harassed, but not when she committed the murder," Iqbal said. After the incident, she ran away from her employer but was raped by nine Saudi men before the police took her into custody. All of her rapists were processed separately, the newspaper reported. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as "Jokowi," on Wednesday criticized the Saudi decision to carry out the death penalty. He said the government had done everything it could to prevent the execution. "We have many times [requested to be notified about executions] directly to King Salman [bin Abdulaziz Al Saud] and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir," The Jakarta Post reported Jokowi as saying. "I have said it over and over again. Do not think that we are not taking political steps." Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also called her Saudi counterpart to express disapproval. "Tuti's execution was carried out without [prior notification]. I also summoned the Saudi ambassador [Usamah Muhammad Al Syuaiby] in Jakarta to meet me in Bali," she said. This is not the 1st time, however, that Indonesian citizens faced capital punishment in Saudi Arabia. In March, the Saudi authorities beheaded Indonesian national M. Zaini Misrin for murder despite Jokowi's repeated pleas to grant clemency. At the time, Saudi Arabia did not notify the Indonesian government beforehand about the execution. Between 2011 and 2018, 102 Indonesians faced death row in Saudi Arabia. Three were executed, 79 were freed from the execution, and 20 are still locked in a legal process for clemency. Observers say Indonesia would appear hypocritical if it criticized Saudi Arabia for carrying out the execution as the Southeast Asian country also has capital punishment on its books and implements it for certain crimes. Under Jokowi, Indonesia has executed 18 death row inmates convicted of drug-related offenses, including foreigners, since 2015. Jakarta's protests were based on the lack of consular notification before executing Tursilawati, rather than complaining about the execution. Wahyu Susilo, director of Migrant Care, criticized the Indonesian government's failure to
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November 2 GLOBAL: Countries should heed "clear pro-abolitionist spirit" towards death penalty: UNHCROn Sudan, the Human Rights Committee highlighted its concerns that the death penalty is still imposed for crimes other than those involving "intentional killing". Countries should heed the "clear pro-abolitionist spirit" towards the death penalty of one of the world's most important treaties, a key UN independent human rights panel said on Thursday, while highlighting concerns about right-to-life violations in Belarus and Sudan. The Human Rights Committee's comments followed its scheduled review of both countries at its 124th session in Geneva, which also covered Belize, Bulgaria and Guinea. The 18-member body of independent experts began work more than four decades ago to monitor people's right to life, freedom of expression and freedom of conscience – obligations for State signatories to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Together with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the two Covenants are the cornerstone of an extensive series of internationally binding rights treaties. On Sudan, the Human Rights Committee highlighted its concerns that the death penalty is still imposed for crimes other than those involving "intentional killing". Panel member Sarah Cleveland told journalists that this could include a "wide range" of offences, such as blasphemy, adultery and same-sex relationships. "Sudan has a wide range of crimes on the books that are subject to the death penalty including crimes which do not qualify as the 'most serious crimes' under the Covenant," she said. "It has a mandatory death penalty for a number of crimes and it also retains on the books punishments including execution by stoning and by crucifixion." Noting that Sudan had "indicated that they do not apply the latter 2 punishments", Ms Cleveland explained that the committee had recommended that they be removed from the criminal code nonetheless. On Belarus, the UN panel noted with concern that the death penalty "continues to be imposed and enforced", including in 6 cases where the Human Rights Committee had requested a stay of execution. "We intervened and asked them not to execute a person until we have heard his allegations about the due process and other violations of his process," said panel chair Yuval Shany. He explained that the Government had said it was examining a move towards the abolition of the death penalty, but that a majority of the population was not in favour of doing so. "We already know that 3 out of those 6 persons have been executed despite our requests," Mr Shany added. "We do not have information about the fate of the other 3, so we are still hoping that they were not executed." Denying families an execution date, clearly 'inhumane treatment' Among the committee's other concerns about Belarus with regard to the Convention was the practice of preventing families of condemned prisoners from knowing the date of their execution - one of a series of measures which the authorities maintained were there to shield relatives. "The argument from the State has been that these provisions in the Penalties Enforcement Code are actually in a way to protect the family," said panel member Ilze Brands Kehris. "But it is the view of the Committee and every time we have had other countries where we have dealt with this as well, is that the traumatic experience of not knowing what has happened to a loved one and not knowing the time of even an execution and certainly not being able to then bury the body...actually does amount to inhumane treatment." Beyond its country-specific recommendations, the UN panel also took the significant step of issuing updated, detailed guidance on the right to life, which is covered in the Covenant under Article 6. The Committee last published two such documents more than 30 years ago, and each of those was only 10 paragraphs long. The latest version was nearly 4 years in the making and is more than seven times as big - reflecting the input of dozens of States and civil society - and the impact of modern-day threats to people's civil and political rights, such as weaponized drones and environmental degradation. According to the panel's rules, Member States have two years to report back on their progress in implementing its main concluding observations, or recommendations. Asked whether the panel would comment on the case of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who Saudi officials reportedly say was killed in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, chair Yuval Shany said that the country was not a signatory to the Convention. Turkey was a signatory, however, Mr Shany, explained, before adding that it had yet to report back to the Committee, although it was expected to do so next year. At its 125th meeting in March, the panel is due to
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Nov. 1 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Man gets death penalty after failed proposal leads to murder in UAE He was drunk at the time of the incident. A man accused of killing another man who asked for his sister's hand in marriage has been sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi. The Asian victim had allegedly refused the suspect who proposed to marry his sister, as per Al Bayan report. The 2 men got into an argument on the matter and the victim brandished a knife. The suspect struck him, which led to the man dying as a result of his injuries. The suspect claimed he was forced to strike in self-defence with no criminal intent. Medical reports showed the victim had been drunk at the time of his murder. (source: Khaleej Times) SOUTH SUDAN: Former SA army colonel escapes South Sudan death penalty Following an amnesty from South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former South African army colonel William Endley has escaped being hanged after he was sentenced to death by a Juba court in February. He will be released from prison on Thursday and then deported back to South Africa. On Wednesday South Sudan President Salva Kiir declared the release of 2 political detainees, including Endley, who was sentenced on charges of treason, the East African reported. Also released was James Gatdet, a former spokesman of rebel leader Dr Riek Machar. Gatdet was arrested in 2017 after his deportation from Nairobi for allegedly subversive activities against the Juba administration. In addition to the charges of conspiracy and attempts to overthrow South Sudan's government, the supply of weapons the South African national was also accused of espionage, waging an insurgency, sabotage, terrorism and illegal entry into South Sudan. (source: iol.co.za) NIGERIA: NGOs want death sentence for armed robbery abolished 2 non-governmental organisations, Access to Justice and Avocats Sans Fronteires France, have commenced a lawsuit seeking the abolishment of death sentence for armed robbery. In their suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the NGOs are urging the court to declare that Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions Act) Act is unconstitutional, null and void. According to them, the provisions of the Act are in conflict with Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter, which guarantee the right to human dignity and equality before the law. The NGOs contended further that the provisions of the Act are also in conflict with sections 6(6)(a), 42 and 45 of the 1999 Constitution. They described Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions Act) Act "and similar statutory provisions that mandate death penalty" as unreasonable, unjustifiable, and unconstitutional. The NGOs are urging the court to order the defendants in the suit to immediately review the cases of all convicts who had been sentenced to death pursuant to Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions Act) Act. Joined as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation; the Controller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service; and the National Human Rights Commission. The plaintiffs want the court to order the Controller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service "to immediately remove convicts who have been sentenced under the aforesaid provision from the death row and reassign them to appropriate prison facilities, pending the review of their sentences." They want the court to direct the NHRC to review the cases of affected death row inmates within six months of the final judgment in the case. (source: punchng.com) KENYA: DPP Seeks Death Penalty in Endarasha Boys' High School Dormitory Fire Case The Director of Public Prosecutions on Wednesday prescribed the death penalty for 14 people over a dormitory fire that occurred at Endarasha Boys' High School 8 years ago. Presenting in court, State Counsel Njagi Njue stated that circumstantial evidence showed that the fire that killed 2 students was caused by human beings using petroleum products. "Circumstantially, the prosecution has been able to show the bodies were of a human being and belonged to the two students. The pathologist indicated that scientifically, the victims were burnt to death and ruled out the possibility of them being dead before the fire started. He explained that through what he called mechanism of death," he told Justice Jairus Ngaah. The prosecutor told the court that the two killed in the fire were Kennedy Karogo and Joseph Mwangi arguing the reason a jerican was found in the dormitory. 3 Endarasha Boys' High School students leave Nyeri Law Courts after they denied arson charges on July 17, 2017. "[Why was that jerican in] the dormitory? It was not a garage. The container was used to carry petrol. Those who went to the scene said the fire was fierce and that they
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October 31 ENGLAND: Prison cell of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the UK, recreated for exhibition The prison cell that was home to Ruth Ellis - the last woman to be executed in this country - has been recreated for a new art show. Artist Christina Reihill consulted the original prison diary recording her final days to build the installation. Ellis was hanged at Holloway Prison in 1955 after being found guilty of murdering her abusive lover David Blakely after shooting him five times at point blank range outside a Hampstead pub. The case, which was filmed in 1985 as Dance With A Stranger with Miranda Richardson and Rupert Everett as the doomed lovers, is often cited as helping turn public opinion against the death penalty. There was a huge outcry at the plight of Ellis, a former nightclub hostess and prostitute, who had earlier suffered a miscarriage after being attacked by Blakely. Tens of thousands of people signed a petition begging for a reprieve and US crime novelist Raymond Chandler - the creator of private eye Philip Marlowe - wrote a letter to the Evening Standard decrying the "medieval savagery" of the courts. The show, at the Bermondsey Project Space, is inspired by letters she wrote from her cell as well as prison reports that were regularly updated tracking her state of mind up until her execution. Ms Reihill said she was attracted by Ellis's personality and her determination to "live her own life". She said: "I love her honesty, she said having killed him 'He deserved it', she didn't hide from it." The installation also includes a poem written by Ms Reihill from the viewpoint of Ellis addressing Blakey and a video interview explaining her fascination with the killer. She said she believes Ellis wanted to die and fell back on her hostess persona while in the cell waiting for her sentence to be carried out. (source: standard.co.uk) BELARUS: 'Child abuser' faces execution by shooting after baby found decapitated in Belarus A man could face the death penalty by being shot in the back of the head after a baby was found beheaded, law enforcement sources in Belarus have said. The man has been identified only as Viktor, 47. The 8-month-old girl's mother Natalia Klob, 25, was also detained over the vicious crime but women can't be executed in the ex-Soviet state. Klob had been with Viktor - a family friend - when the child known only as Anna was killed with a kitchen knife at a house in Luninets. Reports claim the baby had also been badly beaten before she was killed. When Klob's husband Leonid, 28, arrived home with the couple's 2 sons "he saw his daughter lying in a pool of blood, her head severed". A paramedic doctor fainted when she arrived and saw the blood-soaked scene in the province of Brestkata Oblasts. A neighbour said: "When Leonid came into the flat he saw a scene out of the horror movies. "The ambulance doctor fainted when she came in." According to reports, the mother and her friend had been drinking. Neighbours claim the young family were "happy" and had recently baptised the child in the Orthodox Church. The man and the child's mother now face a criminal case for the murder of a child with "particular cruelty". Under law in the ex-Soviet state, the maximum punishment for this crime is death, while for women it is up to 25 years in jail. Belarus is the only remaining country in Europe which continues to carry out the death penalty, with the national constitution prescribing this punishment for "grave crimes". It has been part of the country's legal system since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Before execution, all death row prisoners are transferred to the Minsk Detention Centre No. 1 in the Belarusian capital. According to the book The Death Squad by Oleg Alkayev, the convict is transported to a secret location on the day of the execution where he is told by officials that all appeals have been rejected. The person is then blindfolded and taken to a nearby room, where 2 officials force him to kneel in front of a bullet backstop. The executioner then shoots the convict in the back of the head with a PB-9 pistol fitted with a suppressor. Following the shooting, a death certificate is prepared and the remains of the person are buried secretly, with their family informed of the execution. But Belarus' methods of capital punishment have been widely condemned by international organisations, including the United Nations. The use of capital punishment is believed to be one factor keeping the country out of the Council of Europe - the international organisation which aims to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the continent. (source: express.co.uk) KENYA: Father and his 2 sons get death sentence for killing boy A father and his 2 sons have been sentenced to death after they were found guilty of killing
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October 31 BAHRAIN: Bahraini Court Upholds Death Sentence for 2 in 2015 Case of Police Bombing Bahrain Court of Appeals upheld on Monday the death sentence of 2 Bahraini nationals convicted of killing 2 policemen and injuring 6 others in a bus bombing on Sitra Island in July 2015. The appeals court also upheld all sentences in life imprisonment, between 6 months and 10 years of 20 other convicts in the case, revoked the Bahraini nationality of 9 of them, and obliged 7 of them to pay a fine of 6,600 Bahraini dinars. The case dates back to July 28, 2015 when terrorists bombed a police bus in Sitra which claimed the life of 2 policemen and injured 6 others. The High Court of Appeals ruled in the case of establishment, formation, joining, financing and running of a terrorist group to break the law, according Terror Crime Prosecution Chief Ahmed al-Hammadi. The terrorist group had killed 2 policemen and attempted to murder several others, possessed, handled and used explosive devices, weapons and incendiary devices, damaged properties, assisted and concealed fugitive terrorists to escape justice without reporting to the authorities. They also entered and exited Bahrain unlawfully. In March 2017, the High Criminal Court sentenced 2 defendants to death, 5 defendants to a life in jail, 6 defendants to 10 years each, 1 defendant to 5 years in jail, 2 defendants to 3 years each and 2 defendants to 2 years each, and 4 defendants to 6 months incarceration. The court acquitted 4 of the defendants. (source: aawsat.com) SAUDI ARABIA: Halt death sentences on children, UN rights expert urge Saudi authorities Saudi Arabia has been urged by United Nations human rights experts to immediately halt the execution of 6 people sentenced to death for crimes allegedly committed when they were under the age of 18. The experts warned that carrying out the sentences could amount to "arbitrary executions." The 6 who face imminent execution, were sentenced for charges that the experts said criminalize fundamental human rights, including the freedom of assembly and expression. The 6 individuals, all male, - Ali al-Nimr; Dawood al-Marhoon; Abdullah al-Zaher; Mujtaba al-Sweikat; Salman Qureish; and Abdulkarim al-Hawaj - were allegedly tortured and ill-treated, forced to confess, denied adequate legal assistance during trial and never had access to an effective complaint mechanism, the experts said. "As a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Saudi Arabia is under an obligation to treat everyone under the age of 18 as a child," the group said in a news release issued by the UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Monday. "Children should never be subject to the death penalty, this practice violates an existing norm of customary international law and renders the punishment tantamount to torture [...] In these circumstances, the execution of these 6 individuals would constitute arbitrary executions," they stressed. "Saudi Arabia must ensure that children who have not benefited from a fair trial be immediately released and that those among them who were sentenced to death have their sentence commuted in line with international juvenile justice standards and the Committee of the Rights of the Child's recommendations in 2016," the experts said. The experts acknowledged the recent review initiated by Saudi Arabia of juvenile law but expressed "regret" that the amendments introduced in the legislation "continue to fail to adequately protect children." The law still allows for the death penalty to be imposed on child offenders aged between 15 and 18, said the release. "Saudi Arabia should promptly amend its legislation with a view to unambiguously prohibiting the imposition of the death sentence on children," urged the UN rights experts. The experts voicing their concern include Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions; Renate Winter, Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child; Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on torture; David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on protection of the rights of expression; and Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the freedom of peaceful assembly. The experts said they are in contact with the Government regarding the case. UN Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary, and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. (source: un.org) * Indonesia protests Saudi Arabia execution of migrant worker The government has aired its "deep concerns" about the execution of Indonesian migrant worker Tuti Tursilawati, which was carried out on Monday without the prior knowledge of her family or Indonesian officials. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi immediately called her
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October 30 MALAYSIA: Death penalty not a deterrent, says ex-judge Retired Court of Appeal judge Mah Weng Kwai believes that the death penalty is not a deterrent and that there are other ways to prevent crimes from being committed. Recalling an execution he witnessed 35 years ago when he was a rookie magistrate, Mah said that unless the execution was made known to the press or to the public, it would not have served as a deterrent. "Was it (the execution) ever made known to the press or to the public? If it wasn't, what good is it to say that it will serve as a deterrent when there is no information for the public to make an informed decision?" Mah asked the audience at a talk on whether the death penalty served as a deterrent. The talk was organised by the St Ignatius Church and the Catholic Lawyers Society. Mah also vividly recounted his experience witnessing the execution. He said in 1973, as a magistrate, he not only had to visit prisons, but also witnessed executions. He recalled the execution of 2 brothers, aged 19 and 21, who had been sentenced to death over the murder of a policeman. The 2 boys, Mah said, had attempted to rob a policeman of a revolver, after which a struggle ensued, the gun went off, and the policeman died. Mah said to his horror, he, the imam and a doctor had to walk past the death row cells. “The 2 boys were very quickly taken out of the cell, their hands cuffed behind them. Their heads were covered with a cloth. "They stood on the trap door, with the rope around their heads, the next thing you know, the trap door opens, and then bang! It was the loudest bang I have ever heard. After that, there was silence. No one said a word. "Can you imagine. One moment, the 2 guys are walking, alive, and the next thing you know, they are dropping," he said. Mah said he had also noticed a chart behind him, where the weight and height of those who would be executed were used to determine the length of the rope that would be needed. Mah said within seconds of the trap door opening, the person will lose consciousness, but does not immediately die. In reference to the 2 boys, Mah said their bodies were left hanging for 30 minutes before they were taken down and certified medically dead. "After the execution, the prison governor invited us to go to the office for a cup of coffee. Can you imagine, after just witnessing 2 guys being killed, and to have the bodies remain hanging, and the prison governor invites us for coffee," he said. Mah further pointed to the double standards practised by the public. He said that in general, the public did not like seeing a public execution of a person, and they would call it uncivilised and inhuman. However, if the person had, for instance, murdered someone, they believed that the murderer should be hanged, but in prison. Mah said executions generally go by unnoticed unless there was a big clemency drive. De facto law minister VK Liew had reportedly said that amendments to abolish the death penalty would be tabled at the current Parliament sitting. Liew had also said that death row inmates would serve 30 years' life imprisonment under the proposed abolition of the death penalty. (source: freemalaysiatoday.com) SINGAPORE: International human rights groups plead with Singapore to abolish the death penalty after six men were recently hanged Amnesty International and the United Nations Human Rights Office appealed to Singapore to stop the hangings and abolish the "cruel and irreversible' death penalty. The wealthy city-state has recently executed six men convicted of drug offences in October, despite pleas of clemency from the rights groups and neighbouring country Malaysia, which just this month announced that it was eradicating capital punishment by the end of the year. Just this month, Singapore hanged 6 men, all for drug-related offences. Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Amnesty International's Singapore Researcher said that the death penalty "has no place in any society, as more than 2/3 of the world's countries have come to recognise". 1 of the men executed was 31-year-old Malaysian national Prabu N. Pathmanathan. Pathmanathan, who was on death row since 2014 for possession of diamorphine, was hanged at Changi prison on Friday morning, October 26. Singaporean Irwan bin Ali was also put to death alongside Pathmanathan, following the "secret" hanging of Selamat bin Paki, according to the International Federation for Human Rights. Legal counsel for Pathmanathan's family, N. Surendran, said that their petition for clemency was unlawfully denied by the office of Singapore President Halimah Yacob, which had delivered a letter to Prabu's family in response, saying it was "unable to accede to [their] request". Pathmanathan, according to Surendran, had become "a new man" and "very spiritual" after his time in prison. "He wanted to live. He wanted to have another
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October 28 MALAYSIA: Yoursay: Has death penalty served as effective deterrent for drug trafficking? Prabu's final message before execution: Stay away from drugs Lodestar: Malaysia and Singapore should abolish the death penalty for drug offences. Why is this sort of crime so terrible that it justifies the judicial killing of even a young and foolish drug mule? There is no death sentence even for 1MDB-scale alleged theft of billions, which arguably do far more harm to the nation. Victims of mega corruption include the whole nation and they don't have a choice, while drug users willingly tango with drug pushers. The death penalty has been in place in both countries for decades but the latest hanging shows that it has been unsuccessful as a deterrent. While there should be penalties for drug offences, the death sentence is wholly inappropriate and it's generally drug users and drug mules who get caught in the net, rather than drug kingpins. When you think about it, legal drugs like tobacco and alcohol do more damage to society than illicit drugs. Even those who make poisonous brews that kill dozens are not subject to the death penalty, so why the disproportionate fear of opioids? The law in Singapore is so merciless that there is almost zero chance of clemency, however justified the case and whatever the circumstances. What a shameful lack of humanity. Vote BN Out: The question of whether to abolish the death sentence or not has seen countless debates from both sides. Each side has their points of merit. The final issue is, has the death sentence been shown to be an effective deterrent for drug trafficking cases? The jury is still out on that one. Vijay47: Many of us might say, "The law must take its course. You get what you deserve, you reap what you sow." True, we cannot deny that truth, especially when drugs are such a terrible monster with the potential to destroy lives and souls and families. Yet, when a person is put to death we cannot help but feel sorry for him and those he leaves behind. Rest in peace, Prabu Pathmanathan. Why It Happens: If a government cannot stop the drug problems in spite of putting young people to death, then the leaders cannot call themselves leaders. They should just resign for putting people in the gallows. Leaders who do great sins get off scot-free. Shame on this world. Jackay Way: I personally think that the death penalty should be abolished for drug-dealing cases. A life sentence will suffice. The death sentence should only be carried out for real heinous crimes. Rest in peace, Prabu. Anonymous_1f857937: Yes, I think the death sentence was completely unnecessary; if they really believed in second chances, they would have at least entertained the idea of clemency. Prabu’s message would have been more impactful being delivered in person. But that's Singapore for you, people are kept in line not by education and civic consciousness, but through fear of reprimand and punishment. They used Prabu as an example. Sunshine: It’s very sad that a pleasant-looking young man’s life has come to this tragic end. The photos seem to indicate that Prabu has long atoned for his mistake. That should have meant something. Anonymous_e3e72c1b: An 'eye for an eye' type of justice just begets more violence. No civilised country should end a human life. I'm so glad Malaysia is showing the way on this issue. Anonymous_c4bcf78b: Finally, we see the face behind the name. A respectful individual in his final moments, regardless, leaving a positive message for others. May you rest in peace and your family find solace. Anonymous 2404021457358192: May the haunting photo of Prabu sneak into the minds of those responsible for his hanging. Stop this archaic punishment. Avis: Only God has the right to take away a life. Not the police or the courts. 'Unlawful' of S'pore to hang Prabu - lawyer Anonymous_1537180923: Firstly, I personally don't support the death penalty. But a law will remain a law until it's changed by its legislature. Whoever breaks the law should be punished, no matter how absurd or how crazy the law is. Prabu committed a crime in a country where the death penalty is still in force. We can feel sad about the execution, but we can't blame Singapore for executing him for whatever reason. Secondly, Prabu knew about the death penalty in Singapore beforehand (read up the judgment of the Singapore High Court). He gambled with his life and lost. I respect Prabu for his last wish to urge people not to be involved with drugs. I hope that he will rest in peace. Anonymous_86c99cb9: It's very easy for people to condemn Singapore for the hanging of drug traffickers. Wait until one day your loved ones are involved in drugs and you go through the suffering and experiences, then you will agree. I support the Singaporean decision to hang all drug traffickers. My son is an addict and we suffer so
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October 27 JAPAN: A restaurant in Tokyo is serving the last meals of famous death row inmates In Tokyo's red light district neighbourhood of Kabukichi, Shinjuku, Chim?Pom - a Japanese guerilla art collective - has opened a pop-up restaurant serving the last meals requested by famous death row inmates. Dubbed the Ningen Restaurant (translated as "human restaurant"), the pop-up, which operates until October 28, offers meals requested by convicted criminals such as Gary Mark Gilmore before they were executed. Gilmore, a serial criminal, was convicted on counts of armed robbery, assault, and 2 murders he had committed in Utah. His case gained international attention after he demanded to receive the death sentence for his crimes. For his last meal, Gilmore opted for a hamburger, mashed potatoes, a hard-boiled egg, and multiple shots of whiskey. According to Munchies, Gilmore requested Jack Daniels, though Chim?Pom's version uses Maker's Mark instead. Here's a look at Chim?Pom's take on Gilmore's last meal: Chim?Pom reportedly features the last meals of other criminals including John Wayne Gacy, a Chicago-based serial killer and rapist, who requested to have a pound of strawberries, a bucket of KFC chicken, fries, and a dozen fried shrimp for his last meal. The restaurant also serves the last meal of Joseph Paul Jernigan, a criminal from Texas convicted of murder who donated his corpse to the Texas Anatomy Board at the suggestion of the prison chaplain. Without his knowledge, his body was later integral in the establishment of a federal government project meant to digitalize the human body, called the Visible Human Project. Chim?Pom's recreation of Jernigan's last requested meal includes 2 cheeseburgers, a salad, and an iced tea. However, Jernigan reportedly refused to eat his actual meal when the time came. The 2-week pop-up is part of a larger art installation by Chim?Pom, featuring artwork by Austrian avant-garde artist Hermann Nitsch and performances from local artists such as Aida Makoto and shock art performers Dengenki Network. Based out of the Kabukicho Book Center, the pop-up is the building's last event before being demolished following an acquisition by a Tokyo-based property developer that operates the nearby famous Robot Restaurant. Here's a glimpse of what it's like inside the restaurant: The "body-based" theme of the pop-up and the other exhibitions are inspired by the Kabukicho neighbourhood's history as a place where, according to Chim?Pom's website, "people used the sex work industry, bodies, and desire as weapons or ways of consumption to survive." The project isn't the 1st of its kind. In 2017, photographer Henry Hargreaves achieved coverage for his photographic recreation of famous death row meals. Hargreaves is a critic of the death penalty and created his photo series following news that Texas was rescinding criminals' ability to make last meal requests. A representative for Chim?Pom did not immediately reply to INSIDER's request for comment. (source: businessinsider.com.au) CHINAexecutions Drug producers executed in south China 2 drug makers were executed Friday in south China's Hainan Province for manufacturing drugs, according to a local court. The 2 offenders, identified by their surnames as Xie and Tian only, were the prime culprits of a drug-manufacturing case. In early July of 2015, Xie and Tian who were locals of south China's Guangdong Province conspired to secretly fund the manufacturing of ketamine in a valley in Wenxi Village, Suichuan County in east China's Jiangxi Province, said the First Intermediate People's Court of Hainan. The local public security department launched a raid on July 11, 2015, and seized a total of 3.5 tonnes of drugs and raw materials for producing the drugs at the plant. The local police apprehended 13 suspects involved in the case from July 11, 2015 to Sept. 13, 2016. The court sentenced Xie and Tian to death in the 1st trial on June 26, 2017. All their properties were also confiscated, according to the verdict. Other suspects were convicted and given jail terms ranging from fixed-term imprisonment to life imprisonment and the death penalty with probation. Xie and Tian appealed after the trial. The Hainan Provincial Higher People's Court rejected their appeal and upheld the sentences of the previous trial on Dec. 18, 2017. (source: xinhuanet.com) RUSSIA: Party leader claims Russians would support capital punishment due to their 'aggressive nature' The school shooting in Kerch last week has reignited a public debate on whether Russia should keep its moratorium on the death penalty, which has been in place for over 20 years. On October 17, a student of a college in Kerch killed 21 people, including 16 fellow students in a gun rampage. Just like many other high-profile crimes in Russia, this was used by proponents of the death
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October 26 IRAN: 5 Iranian environmentalists facing death penalty 5 environmentalists in Iran have been charged with national security crimes that carry the death penalty, something that the UN environment head has called deeply troubling. These activists from the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation were arrested in January, along with at least four other people, and accused of espionage, something that international human rights campaigners and Iran's own government say there is no evidence for. Thus, the Iranian Regime changed the charges to "corruption on earth", which is punishable by execution. UN Environment head, Erik Solheim, said that the UN is deeply troubled by these cases and that the latest development gives them "even greater cause for alarm". The 5 environmentalists are Houman Jowkar, Taher Ghadirian, Morad Tahbaz, Sepideh Kashani and Niloufar Bayani. Tahbaz, who is Iranian-American, is CEO of the PWHF, while Bayani who has worked with the UN, only returned to Iran last June to join the group. One source familiar with the Iranian Regime said that its intelligence apparatus is suspicious of NGOs, especially those with dual nationals involved, because it sees them as threats to the status quo of the Regime. Meanwhile, Iran is plagued by environmental challenges, including water shortages and air pollution, which have been triggers for the nationwide protests in Iran that sprang up in December, but the people most equipped to help are being jailed by the mullahs. In January, the Revolutionary Guards Corps arrested at least 9 members of the PWHF, 1 of whom has already died in jail. Professor Kavous Seyed-Emami, a celebrated Canadian-Iranian environmentalist, died in February and the Regime claimed it was suicide, but many disagree. The Regime accused Seyed-Emami of being a CIA-Mossad agent and claimed that the PWHF had used surveys of endangered Asiatic cheetahs as a cover for spying on missile test sites. However, they produced no evidence for that. The source said: "After the death in custody of Seyed-Emami, the Revolutionary Guards went on defensive and to extremes to prove that something was wrong, especially when the government is saying they haven't done anything wrong." Solheim explained that the UN was kept in the dark about Seyed-Emami's death and the new charges against the environmentalists. He said: "This sends an extremely ominous message to Iran’s environmentalist community." The Regime also arrested Kaveh Madani, the deputy head of Iran’s environmental protection organisation, and held him for 72 hours. Following his release, he fled the county. The 3 other environmentalists who were not charged with corruption on earth, but whose fate is still unknown are Amir Hossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi and Abdolreza Kouhpayeh. (source: irannewsupdate.com) ** Environmentalists Face Capital ChargesDetained for 9 Months; No Access to a LawyerA campaign poster showing environmental activists, Taher Ghadirian, Niloufar Bayani, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Houman Jokar, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, Morad Tahbaz and Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, who have been in detention for 6 months. Iranian authorities have issued indictments against 8 detained environmental activists that could lead to the death penalty, Human Rights Watch said today. Iranian authorities should immediately release these activists who have been arbitrary detained for nine months unless they can produce evidence to justify the charges against them and guarantee a fair trial. On October 24, 2018, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, said at a news conference that the authorities had finalized indictments for the activists, who have been held since January and February. He said that 4 face the charge of "sowing corruption on earth," which includes the risk of the death penalty. He justified the charge based on a claim that the activists were "seeking proximity to military sites with the cover of the environmental projects and obtaining military information from them." "Iran's judiciary appears determined to pursue serious charges against these environmental activists no matter how ridiculous the allegations of wrongdoing are and despite the continuing denial of the defendants' right to see a lawyer of their choice," said Michael Page, deputy Middle East deputy director at Human Rights Watch. "With the judiciary serving as one of the main cornerstones in Iran's apparatus of repression, there is a major risk that they won't get a fair trial." When the law is applied in such a vague way that people cannot predict which acts are crimes and detainees suffer major violations of due process rights, prosecutions are arbitrary, Human Rights Watch said. On January 24 and 25, the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence organization arrested Houman Jokar, Sepideh Kashani, Niloufar Bayani, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi,
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Oct. 25 GERMANY: German region to vote on decades-old death penalty anomaly Voters in Hesse will be asked on Sunday whether they want theirs to be the last German state to abolish the death penalty. A referendum on whether to endorse a raft of revisions to the state's constitution is being held in parallel with a regional parliamentary vote, and politicians hope finally to bring to an end a decades-old anomaly. Like all European Union members, Germany has banned the death penalty and it is enshrined in the national constitution, its Basic Law of 1949. But the constitutions of some states, such as Hesse, predate the Basic Law. All but Hesse have since introduced local bans. But one of Germany's wealthiest and most populous states has yet to follow suit: an embarrassment for a country that is an outspoken opponent of capital punishment. "Partly it was never modernized because it wasn't necessary - the Basic Law overrules state constitutions," said Juergen Banzer, a Christian Democrat who served on the committee of churches, trade unions and community organizations that drafted the amendments. But there was another reason: Hesse is the only state where constitutional amendments need to be put to the people. The one thing more embarrassing than the lack of a death penalty ban would be a vote to ban it that failed. "There was a fear that if a terrible crime was committed just as Hesse voted on whether to abolish the death penalty, then the vote could go the wrong way," Banzer said. The death penalty abolition is 1 of 15 amendments to be voted on, including statements on children's rights, sex equality, European unity and environmental sustainability. (source: Reuters) IRAN: UN Rights Expert Urges Iran to End Death Penalty for Minors The U.N. independent expert on human rights in Iran urged Tehran on Wednesday to abolish the death penalty for juveniles. "I appeal to the Iranian authorities to abolish the practice of sentencing children to death, and to commute all death sentences issued against children in line with international law," Javaid Rehman, special rapporteur for human rights in Iran, told a General Assembly human rights committee. Execution of juvenile convicts violates international law and contravenes the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Rehman said 5 individuals convicted of having committed murder as minors have been put to death this year in Iran. The most recent, Zeinab Sekaanvand, was executed 3 weeks ago. She was accused of killing her husband in 2012 when she was 17. "Claims that she was coerced into confessing to the killing, had been beaten following her arrest and was a victim of domestic violence were reportedly not adequately examined during her trial," the special rapporteur said. Iran not alone Iran is by far the leader among a handful of countries - which include Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, South Sudan and Yemen - that have executed minors in the past decade, according to the Death Penalty Information Center website. Rehman said the Iranian executions continue despite amendments in 2013 to the Islamic Penal Code that allow judges to give alternate sentences for juvenile offenders in certain circumstances. He said there were "numerous" other juvenile offenders on death row in Iran. The Iranian government says it has established a task force that will deal with the protection of the rights of children and adolescents, and Rehman has urged it to address the situation of juveniles on death row. Needs improvement The report from Rehman, a law professor at Brunel University London, was his first since he took up his post in July. He has not yet visited Iran but has requested that authorities allow him to have unhindered access to the country. He expressed a series of concerns about human rights in Iran, where for nearly a year the country has seen a wave of protests fueled by a flagging economy, high unemployment, the rising cost of living and social discontent. At the start of the demonstrations last December, numerous arrests were made, and at least 22 people were killed during a security crackdown. Media workers have also been harassed and intimidated. "I remain concerned about the fate of those arrested during the protests, and call upon the government to ensure that all those imprisoned for peacefully exercising their freedom of opinion and expression are released," Rehman said. The situation of women and girls also warrants improvement. One issue that has been in the spotlight is the mandatory veiling of women. "Any form of coercion on women violates their rights," Rehman said. "So, enforcement and forced dress code, thereby, is contrary to international human rights law." The Iranian government rejects the concept of the special rapporteur's mandate, but provides some cooperation with his office. Speaking
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Oct. 24 BAHRAIN: Bahrain Reverses Death Sentence Against 2 Citizens Bahrain's Court of Cassation accepted the verdict in form and turned down the appealed death penalty in substance against defendants Hussain Ali Moussa and Mohammed Ramadan Essa. It also returned the case for reconsideration by the issuing court to be constituted from another jury to issue a new ruling, Advocate General and Head of Technical Office at the Public Prosecution Haroon al-Zayani said. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) submitted a memorandum to the Public Prosecution regarding its investigations in both complaints lodged by the two convicts, who were sentenced to death for killing a policeman and attempting to murder several others by detonating a bomb. SIU suggested in its memorandum the possibility of reconsidering the sentence against the convicts on the basis of new reports that were issued in the course of its investigation and which were neither submitted to the two degrees of litigation courts nor to the Cassation Court. The verdict was based on various pieces of evidence in addition to one derived from the defendants’ statements that included technical evidence proving that the suspects exchanged mobile text messages, indicating that they agreed and coordinated to commit the crime. Based on SIU's memorandum and the presentation by Acting Head of the SIU and to achieve the required justice, the Public Prosecution agreed with the memorandum and referred the matter to the Minister of Justice for initial reconsideration by the SIU and reconsideration of the said verdict according to his jurisdiction stipulated in the Court of Cassation Law. The Ministry of Justice took the initiative to review the matter and requested the President of the Court of Cassation to reconsider the verdicts against both convicts in light of conclusions of the SIU and the discovery of new reports. This decision was a result of its conclusions after the study and reliant upon the provision of the Cassation Court Law, which permits the Minister of Justice to request a reconsideration of final penalizing verdicts issued in specific cases. The Court of Cassation, therefore, considered the request and issued its aforesaid ruling by accepting the request, reversing the verdict against both convicts and referring back the case to the issuing court to obtain a new ruling by another jury. (source: aawssat.com) ___ 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
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Oct. 23 NIGERIA: Time To Abolish Death Penalty In Nigeria The recent decision by Malaysian authorities to abolish death penalty is a welcome development and a reminder for Nigeria to join the evolving global trend. While announcing the proposed bill to the Malaysian Parliament, its Law Minister, Liew Vui Keong, also called for a halt on all executions until the decision is in effect. If Malaysia succeeds in abolishing the death penalty law, it would be the latest in the series of countries that have done same. It is interesting that today about 106 countries around the world have succeeded in abolishing capital punishment for all crimes in law. It must also be noted that there have been a global wave of disapproval for the tiny spectrum of the globe which still practice death penalty. The aim of such global campaign is to ensure that capital punishment is abolished the world over. Indeed, the global advocacy for countries to end capital punishment is hinged on the fact that the right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights, and it is a universal right. According to United Nations Commission on Human Right, "the right to life is a fundamental right in any society irrespective of its degree of development or the type of culture which characterises it...The preservation of this is one of the essential functions of the state and the numerous provisions of national legislation establish guarantees to ensure the enjoyment of the right". In recent times, there have been a number of international and regional instruments against death penalty. Research reveals that every year, since 1997, the United Nations Commission on Human rights has passed a resolution calling on countries that have not abolished the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions. Unfortunately, death penalty still remains constitutionally legal in Nigeria. This is enshrined in section 33 (1) of the 1999 constitution which provides that "Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which one has been found guilty in Nigeria". According to Amnesty International Nigeria's 2016 global review of death penalty, te country handed down 527 deaths sentences in 2016, which is triple of its 2015 figure and placing it second only to China in death sentences recorded throughout the world in 2016. The report also shows that Lagos State recorded the most executions in Nigeria in 2016 with 68, closely followed by Rivers State with 61 executions. It is therefore worrisome that that Nigeria's death sentences are the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Indeed, there has been a national debate on whether or not to expunge death penalty from the country’s penal code. On the one hand, proponents of death penalty argue that a murderer, for instance, has given up his human rights, including the right to life, and therefore death penalty becomes a retributive measure. More so, letting such individual stay alive would make him a threat to others. To that extent, just as the individual has the right to safeguard as well as take his life whenever he pleases, the state has the right and duty to take the life of a citizen in order to increase its welfare. It is also argued that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to future crimes. Furthermore, it has also been argued that abolishing the death penalty would lead to an increase in the number of extra judicial killings by overzealous security agents and hardened criminals when they know that they would only get life sentences with a possibility of a state pardon. But we are averse to capital punishment considering that death penalty is irreversible and that absolute judgments may lead to people paying for crimes they did not commit. This is because there have been cases where new evidences have emerged in a case where a defendant has already been sentenced to death which has ended up turning the verdict in the convict's favour. Again, we also believe that the argument that death penalty serves as deterrence to crime more than a prison term is a hasty conclusion, considering that there is no evidence to support suc argument. On the contrary, available information reveals that since Canada abolished death penalty in 1976, the country's murder rate has steadily declined and was the lowest in 2016 since 1966. Again, according to United Nations, UN, human rights, considering that most death sentences are executed publicly, it is a gross desecration of human dignity. Death penalty is a gross violation of the inherent dignity of every human person. Moreover, considering that its application as retribution to certain crimes is increasingly going out of fashion around the world, it has become essential that Nigeria strongly considers joining the global death penalty abolition fray. *
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October 22 UNITED KINGDOM: Baroness Hamwee: The UK should never be complicit with the death penalty being used anywhere in the world Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson on Immigration, Baroness Hamwee, writes about the Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Bill, which has its report stage in the House of Lords today and which Labour & the Liberal Democrats seek to amend. Justice "The UK has long opposed the use of the death penalty in other countries, and we have committed ourselves to the goal of abolishing it everywhere. We can do this by using our diplomatic influence, and also by refusing to help foreign governments with prosecutions that will result in someone being executed" - Baroness Hamwee The death penalty is one of the greatest affronts to fundamental human rights. It is cruel, inhumane and irreversible. The UK must oppose its use anywhere in the world - and we have an opportunity to enshrine that opposition in the snappily-titled but important 'Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Bill', currently making its way through the House of Lords. Widespread concerns about the morality of capital punishment - including the danger of wrongful executions - put an end to its use in the UK more than half a century ago. 141 other countries have also abolished the death penalty, in law or in practice. Yet, according to Amnesty International, almost a thousand people were executed around the world last year, and more than 20,000 are currently languishing on death row. The UK has long opposed the use of the death penalty in other countries, and we have committed ourselves to the goal of abolishing it everywhere. We can do this by using our diplomatic influence, and also by refusing to help foreign governments with prosecutions that will result in someone being executed. That has been longstanding government policy: the UK must get assurances that the death penalty will not be used before providing security and justice assistance to countries that still retain it. This clear policy is an important statement of Britain's values. It is vital not only for preventing the use of the death penalty in the individual cases where we provide assistance, but also for strengthening our efforts to persuade all countries to abolish it. Yet in July, we discovered that the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, had offered to assist the United States government in prosecuting two British citizens accused of carrying out executions for ISIL in Syria and Iraq, without seeking assurances that the death penalty will not be used. Even worse, he made that decision in secret. We only found out because his letter to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was leaked to the Telegraph. There is no doubt that terrorists should face justice, but that could be achieved in this case either by prosecuting them here, under British law, or by assisting the US authorities with their prosecutions - if they guarantee that they will not seek the death penalty. The Telegraph's revelations - and the Government's later admission of two other cases since 2001 where death penalty assurances were waived - have rightly provoked outcry among politicians and the public. But wringing our hands isn't enough. We must take concrete steps to prevent this happening in the future. And that brings us to the current Bill. The Government is seeking to give our courts new powers to require internet companies outside the UK to provide electronic data that law enforcement agencies need to investigate and prosecute serious crimes. This will only be possible with new international agreements between the UK and other governments. These new agreements are good opportunity to enshrine our commitment not to assist in death penalty cases. That's why my Liberal Democrat colleague Brian Paddick and I have been working with Labour peers to amend the Bill to require death penalty assurances as part of any future agreements on international data-sharing. It would remove the sort of ministerial discretion that was abused in the case we heard about in July. This is an issue where the UK has traditionally played an important leadership role in the international community. Our unambiguous opposition to the death penalty has helped British diplomats to advance the cause of abolition at the UN and around the world. But the Home Secretary's actions threaten that leadership role. If the UK is seen to no longer fully oppose the death penalty, it weakens our ability to persuade others to abolish it. When proposing the private member's bill that abolished the death penalty in Britain, the MP Sydney Silverman said: "It is impossible to argue that the execution or non-execution of 2 people in England every year can make a very great contribution to the improvement of a dark and menacing world. But in this darkness and gloom into which the twentieth century civilisation has so far led us, we can at least light this
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October 21 IRANexecution Man Hanged at Zahedan Prison A prisoner was executed at Zahedan Central Prison on rape charges this morning. According to the IHR sources, Mehdi Mirshekar, 31, was in prison for 6 years before the execution. He was convicted to death on rape charges and his execution was carried out on the morning of Saturday, October 20. According to HRANA, Mehdi Mirshekar was transferred to the solitary confinement of Zahedan Central Prison on Monday, October 15, 2018. The Iranian media outlets have not published news related to the execution so far. (source: Iran Human Rights) MALAYSIA: Wee: Don't bulldoze death penalty abolition Wee Ka Siong has called into questioned what he claims is Putrajaya's hastiness in pushing through the abolition of the death penalty. The MCA deputy president said the government should at least allow a parliamentary select committee to vet the proposal first. "I have proposed to the government to set up a parliamentary select committee to look into the abolition of death penalty, which was then echoed by Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming. "But Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong is now saying that the government would not do so, as the Cabinet had already made a decision to put an end to capital punishment. "I hope that the government can respect the role of Parliament in this instance. After all, abolishing the death penalty requires amendments to 8 legislations, covering 32 offences," he said in a statement last night. Wee questioned if the hastiness was to allow the extradition of convicted murder Sirul Azhar Umar from Australia, which has refused to comply because the country does not support the death penalty. Sirul, a former bodyguard to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, was convicted of murdering Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. "Between extraditing Sirul and an in-depth evaluation of abolishing the death penalty, which one is more important? "There should be more effort put into discussing whether abolishing the death penalty is suitable for Malaysia at this stage," he said. Wee also questioned the proposal to set up a victim compensation fund. "How does the government plan to sustain this fund then? Will it cut other expenses or introduce new taxes? If so, which expenses will be affected?" he asked. (source:: malaysiakini.com) PAKISTAN: Road to abolition 10 years ago, in 2008, Pakistan took a much-needed step towards abolition of the death penalty by establishing a moratorium on executions. Less than six years later, that moratorium was lifted as a knee-jerk reaction to the increasing threat of terrorism. In the 4 years since then, Pakistan has become one of the world's top executioners. We boast one of the largest death row populations in the world: nearly 4,700 people, according to the most recent official government figures, are currently waiting to be executed by the state and to join the almost 500 others who have been executed since December 2014. While there has been a notable reduction in the number of prisoners on death row over the past several years, we still sentence 1 person to death each day, on average. These are statistics that Pakistan should be ashamed of. Throughout the world, countries are gradually moving towards abolition, some by maintaining moratoriums and others through reducing the number of offences that are punishable by death and putting in place protections for the most vulnerable. Yet in Pakistan, we keep missing the train to abolition. We have seen the number of crimes punishable by death increase over time, and the system through which executions are handed down continues to be riddled with travesties of justice. We cling to the idea that capital punishment is an effective deterrent - when all reliable studies on the matter say it is not. Despite a reduction in death row prisoners, we still sentence one person to death each day, on average. We say the death penalty is to combat terrorism, yet the vast majority of people on death row have not been convicted of terrorism charges. Yes, we are far from being the only country in the world that still applies the death penalty; in fact, some 56 countries fully retain the death penalty. But just 4 countries - Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia - were responsible for 84 per cent of all officially recorded executions carried out worldwide in 2017. (There are no official figures for certain countries, including China.) Perhaps most tragically, Pakistan belongs to a small club of countries that execute minors and people with mental and intellectual disabilities. For the former, our laws prohibiting the application of the death penalty to juveniles are summarily disregarded, while for the second, we inexplicably have not been able to adopt laws that would enable diagnoses and adequately consider the degree of
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October 20 IRAQexecutions Death sentences against 6 convicts involved in terrorism carried out: Ministry The Iraqi Justice Ministry has carried out death sentences against 6 convicts involved in terrorism charges. A statement by the ministry on Wednesday said "death sentences were carried out against 6 convicts in accordance with counter-terrorism law." The ministry highlighted working on implementing the law. Iraqi courts have recently issued death sentences against convicts involved in explosions and killing of civilians and security personnel that have occurred over the past few years. On Sunday, the Central Criminal Court in Baghdad sentenced a man to death as he was caught supplying the Islamic State with explosive materials. Many Islamic State members were detained during liberation battles that freed cities, which were recaptured by the militant group in 2014. 2 Islamic State members were sentenced, in September, to death over killing 12 people in Anbar. In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country. The group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014. (source: Iraqi News) PAKISTAN: Peshawar High Court sets aside military court sentences of 74 convicts The Peshawar High Court set aside on Thursday the sentences of 74 people convicted by the military courts. In a short order, the 2-member bench, comprising PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth and Justice Lal Jan Khattak, ordered the release of the convicts. The court is yet to release a detailed order. 50 convicts were awarded death sentences, while the remaining 24 were serving prison time. Relatives of the convicts had challenged the convictions under Article 199 of the Constitution, which deals with the jurisdiction of high courts. The details of 2 of the 74 convicts have been released. Zorawar Khan, a resident of Dir, had challenged the death sentence of his uncle, Gul Faraz, by the military court. The applicant's lawyer, Shabbir Hussain, said that 28 people, including an MPA, were killed in an explosion at a funeral ground in Mardan on June 19, 2013. Faraz was convicted of facilitating and planning the explosion. The counsel said that the military court did not have single evidence against his client, except his confession. Even the statement was recoded years after he was taken into custody, the lawyer said. Hussain also represented another convict from Hangu, Jannat Karim. The lawyer said that Karim was given death penalty by the military court solely on the basis of his confessional statement. The convict's nephew, Ahsanullah, had challenged the conviction. Karim was convicted of facilitating suicide attacks in 2009 and 2010, and other attacks on policemen. (source: samaa.tv) * Quick government action needed to save Pakistanis on death row abroad: JPP The Lahore High Court on Friday heard a petition pertaining to Pakistanis on death row in various middle eastern countries who are in urgent need of diplomatic assistance. The hearing, presided over by Justice Ayesha A. Malik, reviewed an application filed by Justice Project Pakistan's Asma Shafi to highlight the issue. Shafi has underscored the need for quick action in her petition, which states that Pakistanis in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, are being executed at an increasing rate. Over the past few weeks alone, nine Pakistanis have been executed, according to the petition. The application further highlights that it is the responsibility of the government to keep an eye on the trial proceedings of Pakistanis convicted abroad and assure they are carried out transparently. It is the fundamental right of every Pakistani prisoner to receive assistance on a diplomatic level, Shafi has asserted. Shafi has pleaded to the court to issue orders to the government to provide diplomatic assistance to Pakistanis jailed abroad and to take into consideration their trial proceedings. The hearing was adjourned until December 12. (source: dawn.com) MALAYSIA: Death penalty: To abolish or not? Malaysia once again made it to the international headlines when the Government announced that Malaysia is in the process of abolishing the death penalty. With the moratorium already in place, it seems that the government is not merely being rhetorical with this progress but is serious about the direction that they are taking. This policy will likely be heavily scrutinised amongst the lawmakers and citizens of Malaysia. In Malaysia, the death penalty is provided by the acts of Parliament including the Firearms Act 1971, Penal Code, and Dangerous Drugs Act 1959. Some of the
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October 19 SOUTHEAST ASIA: South-East Asian countries are backing away from the death penaltyBut not from extra-judicial killings Malaysia is hardly known for the leniency of its punishments. Sharia (Islamic law) applies in some states and canings offer a violent public spectacle. Even so, the country's new government no longer wishes to deal in death. On October 10th Liew Vui Keong, a minister, announced that the death penalty would be abolished, although the necessary legislation has yet to be introduced in parliament. That would leave only four countries in South-East Asia still conducting executions: Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. And even among these hold-outs, there are signs of change. Vietnam, with a population of more than 95m, is by far the most prolific executioner in the region. It does not normally disclose the number of prisoners put to death. But last year it reported that 429 had been executed in a 151-week period between 2013 and 2016, a much higher number than had been estimated previously. Singapore, the next on the list, carried out only 8 hangings last year. In Singapore and elsewhere, the death penalty remains popular with voters. But it is less and less so with lawmakers, who are more aware of the foreign criticism it attracts, especially because it is sometimes used for non-violent crimes such as corruption and drug offences. In recent years Vietnam has abolished it for crimes such as producing or trading counterfeit food and possessing drugs. Last year Malaysia and Thailand scrapped mandatory death sentences for selling drugs. In Indonesia a new law under discussion in parliament would introduce a ten-year probation period before an execution occurs. There is regression, too. Singapore imposed a moratorium in 2011 during a review of mandatory sentencing before resuming executions in 2014. In June Thailand carried out its 1st execution since 2009. In the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte would like to reintroduce the death penalty, a view shared by many of those who voted for him. But legislation to do so has stalled in Congress. The new speaker of the House of Representatives, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is a former president who helped to bring about the abolition of the death penalty in 2006. As encouraging as the growing ambivalence about executions is, however, the region suffers from enormous numbers of extra-judicial killings in which the authorities often participate. Myanmar has not formally executed anyone since 1988. Yet a UN report last month said that its army had slaughtered more than 10,000 members of a Muslim minority, the Rohingyas, in a pogrom which began last year. Indonesian authorities shot dead more than 60 drug suspects last year. They claim, unconvincingly, that all the killings occurred in self-defence, or as suspects attempted to flee. In the Philippines Mr Duterte's war against drugs has unleashed murder on an appalling scale. Police and vigilantes have killed more than 20,000 suspects in around 2 years, according to human-rights groups and opposition politicians. For the most part the victims have been petty users and dealers, rather than kingpins. Mr Duterte has himself boasted on occasion about participating in such killings in his previous job as mayor of the city of Davao; at other times he has disavowed any role. But he certainly has not disavowed the practice. (source: The Economist) PAKISTAN: Rethinking Pakistan's drug lawThis mislaid focus, which allows for expendable 'drug mules' to be arrested and convicted rather than the actual kingpins, is aided by the broad-brush nature of the law Dilawar, a 65 years-old truck driver, is apprehended one day on his way to Kashmir and found to be carrying 380 kilos of cannabis. He is oblivious to the nature of the cargo, yet is able to identify with detailed precision, the people who had employed him to carry it. Although apprehended, these individuals are only detained and then released without any charges against them. Dilawar on the other hand, a man who would have needed 76 years just to earn the money required to buy that amount of drugs, was prosecuted and eventually handed a sentence for life imprisonment. Dilawar’s case is not anomalous in the record of anti-narcotics enforcement in the country. The regime in Pakistan is rigged against those from the poorest and most vulnerable strata of society. In many cases this includes women and it also includes under-age minors and people with learning difficulties. A report published earlier this year by the Foundation for Fundamental rights relied on extensive case reviews and interviews, to reveal the iniquitous operations of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act of 1997 (CNSA). The extensive research in the report does not reveal a single case, where a defendant had faced the harshest penalties under the act - death or life
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October 18 PAKISTAN: Lahore: Zainab's killer hanged but the death penalty 'is not the solution'The execution took place this morning. In January, Zainab, a 7-year-old girl, was abducted, raped, tortured and dumped on a garbage heap. A certain criminal mindset is "well rooted in society". Imran Ali, the 24-year-old man convicted for the murder, rape and torture of 7-year-old Zainab, was executed this morning at the Central Jail Lahore (Kot Lakhpat Jail). The murder of the child, who was on her way to religious class and whose body was dumped on a garbage heap, took place in early January in Kasur (near Lahore). The murder sparked outrage across Pakistan. Many Pakistanis reacted vehemently, complaining pf police inaction. Many activists condemned the crime, noting its relationship to a widespread "culture of rape" that allows crimes to go unpunished. The death sentence was carried our at 5.30 am (local time). The father of the victim Muhammad Ameen, was among the witnesses of the execution. For Human Rights Focus Pakistan president Naveed Walter, speaking to AsiaNews, "hanging someone does not do justice and it is not the solution to the problem". In his Naveed's view, a "long-term strategy" is needed "to bring positive changes in society and in the lives of the victims, children and girls. The inhumane practice [of sexual violence] will not end with the hanging of the guilty, until adequate security measures are adopted for all citizens." Other human rights defenders, who consider capital punishment an appropriate punishment for the guilt committed, disagree. Samson Salamat, president of Rwadari Tehreek (inter-religious movement for tolerance), believes that the punishment imposed on Imran Ali is the way that Pakistan must follow to "increase the scope of justice in an infinity of similar cases in which justice is denied." For him, "It also demonstrates the power of the voice of the people: when the people are on the side of justice, nothing can stop it." Activist and writer Kashif Hussain agrees, noting that Zainab's rape and murder is not an isolated incident. "I have read the newspapers for 30 years and I always find the same crimes that are deeply rooted in our society," he said. "I am astonished when I see that the masses do not rebel. Sometimes I fear going crazy. In our society there are many other Zainabs waiting for justice. We must not stop; we must continue the fight against the evils that afflict society." The activist also points the finger at a certain religious mindset. "When we ask for sex education courses, we clash with the reaction of religious groups". (source: asianews.it) *** Man gets death penalty in murder case A trial court in Karachi on Wednesday convicted a man in a murder case and sentenced him to death after a charge was proved against him. Additional district and session judge (West) announced its verdict which was earlier reserved after recording evidences and final arguments from both sides. The court found Akhtar Perveez alias Babu guilty in murder of Shakeel Ahmed in Orangi area on April 30, 2014. The prosecution has stated that the convict had confessed to kill the deceased, adding that witnesses, produced before the court, had also identified the guilty. An FIR had been registered under Sections 23-1 (a) Sindh Arm Act 2013 at the Orangi Town police station on the complaint of Jameel Ahmed (brother of the deceased). In his statement, the complainant had submitted that in the day of the incident, he was sitting outside a factory, wherein he was working, he heard firing and when he reached to the spot, he saw that Babu was holding pistol in his hand while his brother Shakeel was lying on the ground having injury on his head. Meanwhile, Babu also tried to fire on him, but bullet did not fire from the pistol. So he ran away, while his brother Shakeeel succumbed to death on spot. Thereafter, dead body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. According to the written judgment, the convict was also found in possession of 1 pistol. He also made judicial confession before magistrate. The prosecution had established in the court that the convict fired on Shakeel Ahmed intentionally which hit him on his head and caused his death. The order stated that there was also no dispute as to identify of the accused, because it is also admitted by the accused that they knew each other prior to incident. After going through the perusal of FIR, one can misjudge that the fact of dispute over water had been alleged as a motive, the court was fully satisfied that the dispute of water tap did exist between the families of complainant and accused. Earlier, the defense counsel had submitted his arguments by stating that his client was innocent and was falsely implicated in this case, but he failed to produce any witness in the defense of his client. The court also
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October 17 VIETNAM: Drug mule nabbed with 308 killos of tik faces death penalty in Vietnam Police in northern Vietnam have arrested a Laotian man caught with more than 300 kilograms of methamphetamine (commonly known as tik in South Africa) in one of the largest meth seizures ever recorded in the country, authorities announced on Tuesday. Police arrested Xeng Vang, 23, in Quang Binh province's Le Thuy district on Saturday, one day after he fled from a traffic stop after attempting to bribe the officers who pulled him over for speeding, police said in a statement. Upon inspecting the car, police found 308.6 kilograms of meth stored in 300 nylon bags. It was the largest drug bust recorded in Quang Binh province, with an estimated street price for the drugs in the millions of dollars. Although Xeng managed to escape into a forest along with 2 suspected Vietnamese accomplices, police tracked him down the next morning. He admitted to being paid 10 000 dollars to transport the drugs from Vietnam's Ha Tinh city to Da Nang. The other 2 suspects are still at large. In Vietnam, those caught smuggling at least 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty. (source: iol.co.za) BANGLADESH: Journo Farhad, wife killing: HC commutes death penalty of 2 The High Court (HC) commuted the death sentence on Tuesday of 2 convicts to life imprisonment over the killing of journalist Farhad Khan and his wife Rahima Khatun in the city in 2011. An HC bench of Justices Md Ruhul Quddus and ASM Abdul Mobin passed the order after hearing petitions filed by the convicts and the death references. The death penalty was commuted for Nazimuzzaman Yon and his friend Raju Ahmed. Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru and Mansurul Haq Chowdhury stood for the convicts while Deputy Attorney General Moniruzzaman Rubel represented the state. Farhad Khan, 60, senior sub-editor of the Dainik Janata, and his wife Rahima Khatun were killed at their Nayapaltan residence in the city on January 28, 2011. His younger brother Abdus Samad Khan filed a case with Paltan Police Station accusing unknown persons. On October 10, 2012, the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 sentenced Yon, Farhad's nephew, and Raju to death. Later, the convicts filed separate petitions with the High Court challenging the lower court order. (source: Dhaka Tribune) AUSTRALIA: Law Council backs Australia’s global death penalty abolition drive The Law Council of Australia is supporting the Australian government's newly unveiled framework to abolish the death penalty around the world. The "Strategy for the Abolition of the Death Penalty," launched by Senator Marise Payne, Australia's foreign minister, details practical steps that the country's ministers, parliamentarians, and diplomatic missions can follow to end death penalty worldwide. "Australia's Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty sends a powerful message that Australia is committed to advocating for the abolition of the death penalty beyond our borders," said Arthur Moses SC, Law Council president-elect. He said it is paramount that Australia steps up its opposition to the death penalty as the country is faced with the prospect of the execution of some of its citizens abroad. "This is particularly pressing in our own region where some of our neighbours and allies continue to shoot and hang people convicted of crimes," he said. "Senator Payne is correct when she says the death penalty is an affront to human dignity. If you believe this, then it is your responsibility to advocate forcefully on a global level and this is exactly what Australia is doing." He said that international progress is being made, with Malaysia saying last week that it will end the practice. "The Law Council will continue to strongly and consistently argue that no person, anywhere in the world, should ever be subjected to the death penalty. The death penalty is a breach of the most fundamental human right: the right to life," he said. "We are extremely pleased that the Australian government is taking a strong position we can all be proud of." (source: australasianlawyer.com.au) MALAYSIA: Unjust for death row prisoners to serve 30 years in jail, says MP It is ridiculous for death row prisoners to serve another 30 years following the government's move to abolish the death penalty, a backbencher said. Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said these prisoners were already serving time in jail, for between five and 20 years, from the time they were arrested and convicted by the courts. "It is totally unjustified to order them to serve another 30 years in prison. This is akin to natural life imprisonment," he told FMT. Ramkarpal said this in response to the announcement by de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that death row inmates would serve 30 years' life imprisonment under the proposed abolition of
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October 16 SOUTH KOREA: Letters from inmates on death rowAn overview of why South Korea needs to abolish capital punishment Letters written on death row were given to the Hankyoreh by Lee Sang-hyeok, the attorney who set up the Council for the Abolishment of Capital Punishment in South Korea in 1989. For more than 2 decades, from Mar. 1994 until this past July, Lee received 63 handwritten letters running for more than 200 pages that record the fear of death, guilt for crimes committed and remorse for family members left behind. "Even the most heinous of criminals should be given a chance to sincerely repent for their crimes and apologize to their victims," said Lee while showing the letters. Lee's correspondence with Kim Jin-tae, 52, offers insight into the life of inmates on death row. Kim Jin-tae was a death-row inmate until his death sentence was commuted to life behind bars by a special amnesty on the last day of 2002. During the decade between 1993 and 2002, he wore a red name badge on his chest and spent each day waiting for death. In 1992, Kim was arrested by the police on charges of killing his father and abandoning his body, and he was sentenced to death the following year. That happened when he was 27 years old. When Kim's father drank, he habitually resorted to violence. After getting married at the age of 18, Kim's mother endured this violence for nearly 30 years. On the day of the incident, his father had been drinking heavily, as usual. His intoxicated father struck his mother in the head with a blunt object, knocking her out. Seeing this drove Kim out of his mind. He shot his father with a shotgun and dumped his body in the Han River. Arrested on charges of patricide, Kim said that he meekly confessed his crime to the police. This resulted in his incarceration and induction into death row at the Seoul Detention Center, where he has been doing time for 26 years now. Kim went behind bars in his 20s and is now in his 50s. While on death row, Kim was referred to as a "maximum-sentence prisoner" rather than a "death row prisoner." The meaning is the same, as the term means a prisoner receiving the maximum sentence. The term "death row prisoner" is not often used in prison. The words "death penalty" exacerbate the inmates' fear. Referring to death row prisoners as "maximum prisoners" is normal practice in prisons. Every passing day a step closer to death Of course, use of the term "maximum-sentence prisoner" does not make the death penalty any less of a reality. While in prison, death row prisoners are constantly close to death. Every day could be their last. While most prisoners hope for the days to go by quickly, death row prisoners see each passing day as one step closer to death. "We death row prisoners can't really be said to be serving sentences. I suppose it's like getting bonus life," Kim wrote on Mar. 17, 1997. "You could say that while people serving time get closer to their release as time passes, for us it means the day of our death is drawing nearer. It's been 6 years since I was put on death row. I came in as a 27-year-old, and now I'm 32." Since every day is a "bonus," it is not considered strange that execution day eventually will arrive. This does not erase the fear of death, however. The life of a death row prisoner is one of constant uncertainty. Prisoners start at even the smallest noises. Every guard's footstep, every prisoner number that is called is a nerve-racking moment that could signal their ushering to the execution chamber. That sense of day-to-day anxiety for prisoners was apparent in a 2009 piece Kim wrote from prison about his experience on death row. Its title was "Waiting in a Cold Prison Cell for the Death Penalty System to Kill Itself." "The shoes of the approaching prison guard echoing as he strode through the corridor were like the ticking of a time bomb, the sound of the angel of death drawing near. When they finally called out a prisoner's number for a visit, chapel, or trip to the infirmary, cold sweat would stream down my spine and my heart would drop through my stomach. I would confront this fear of death several times a day.” (Dec. 3, 2009) Kim could still vividly remember one moment when he seemed to be staring death in the face. It happened on Dec. 30, 1997, during his 6th year of imprisonment. That morning, he woke up earlier than he ever had before. "Human beings are spiritual animals, and I just had a sense," he explained on why that morning in particular seemed so chilling to him. From the moment his eyes opened, Kim felt that this was to be the day. He took a cold shower early in the morning. With his head now cleared, he wrote a final message and silently prayed. After some time of praying and waiting, a guard called out his prisoner number. "4088, Kim Jin-tae. Visit." Thinking his time had finally come, Kim said a final goodbye to the "brothers"
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October 15 BANGLADESH: Dhaka not to abolish death penalty: FMGovt defends Digital Security Act Bangladesh would not abolish death penalty, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali said in Dhaka on Sunday. Law minister Anisul Huq defended Digital Security Act 2018 claiming that the law was finalised for ensure people's right to safe digital space after intensive consultation with the editors' council and other journalist groups. Ali also said the law 'is necessary to ensure public safety and order.' They said these at a diplomatic briefing in presence of about 37 ambassadors and diplomats of foreign missions in the capital. 'Bangladesh is not abolishing death penalty considering its public opinion and socio-political reality,' the foreign minister said as European Union ambassador Rensje Teerink wanted to know whether the Bangladesh government had any plan to abolish or put moratorium on death penalty, according to a foreign ministry press release. The diplomatic briefing was organised to inform the diplomatic community in Dhaka of the verdict in the case of August 21, 2004, grenade attack on an Awami League rally and the recently-passed Digital Security Act. Law minister Huq claimed the trial was done complying with due process of law having heard 225 witnesses and the defence was also allowed to exercise all rights guaranteed to them under the law. Journalist community in Dhaka and international quarters were protesting against the law describing it against the exercise of freedom of speech. State minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam and foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque were also present. Earlier on the day, heads of mission of the EU member states and the European Union called on the Bangladesh authorities calling for a moratorium on executions as a 1st step towards abolition of capital punishment. The 10th of October is World Day against the Death Penalty and they said that on that same day 19 death sentences were issued in Bangladesh. European Union and its member states reiterated their absolute opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances and restated their commitment to the worldwide abolition of the death penalty. The death penalty violates the inalienable right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and was a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, they said. (source: newagebd.net) PAKISTAN: Urgent prayer for Pakistani mother on death row'Pray for me' pleads Asia Bibi A Catholic Pakistani woman facing the death penalty for blasphemy against Islam is calling on the international community to pray for her release. After spending almost a decade in jail, Aasiya Noreen - commonly known as Asia Bibi - is now anxiously waiting to hear if she will be sentenced to death after her final appeal was heard in Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday October 8. A decision is expected any day. Despite increased calls from radical groups for the death penalty to be carried out, sources report that Bibi's family remain hopeful that she will be acquitted. "God willing it will soon be over and [Asia Bibi] will be back home with the family." - Emmanuel Yousef While waiting for the court's ruling, Bibi's family have been visiting England with support from the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Speaking on behalf of the family, Father Emmanuel Yousef from ACN, said: "Although the judges didn't give a judgement, this has happened in many cases of this kind in the past - and they still ended positively ... "We will have to wait a few days but we are confident that things will go well ... God willing it will soon be over and [Asia Bibi] will be back home with the family." Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih was equally optimistic when speaking to the Catholic Herald, saying that his wife "wanted to deliver a message to the international community that they must remember her in their prayers." He continued, "These prayers will open the door of the prison, and she will be released very soon." "She feels when she is praying, Jesus is encouraging and supporting her." - Ashiq Masih According to the Catholic Herald, Masih also said his wife was "spending her life praying with a very strong faith and is reading the Bible every day. She feels when she is praying, Jesus is encouraging and supporting her." As the mother of 5 made her final appeal in court last week, Pakistani Christians engaged in a day of fasting and prayer. Meanwhile, radical religious groups are making death threats towards the judges presiding over the case to warn them against showing leniency towards Bibi. According to AFP, hardline Islamic party, the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), warned judges they would meet a "horrible" end if they didn't go through with the death penalty via a press conference recorded on YouTube. The group was also calling for mass protests this week to support the stricter
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October 13 INDIA: Allahabad HC upholds death sentence of man convicted for rape, murder of minor girl The Allahabad High Court on Friday upheld the death penalty awarded to a 31-year-old man convicted of raping and murdering a minor girl. Considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances of the case, imposition of the extreme penalty of death sentence on Putai is fully justified, the court said. The court also upheld the life imprisonment awarded to co-accused Dileep, who was convicted for the same offences. The two had filed separate appeals challenging a 2014 sessions court order. The appeals were dismissed by the Lucknow bench of Justice R R Awasthi and Justice Mahendra Dayal. "The manner in which the crime has been committed reflects the mental condition of the appellants..In order to satisfy their lust, (they) committed rape on a minor girl and thereafter killed her and also tried to conceal the evidence by throwing her body in a nearby field...," the bench said. "The injuries found on the body of the deceased girl also reflect the manner in which she was subjected to rape and one can imagine as to how much pain she must have suffered during the commission of crime by the appellants," it added. Government advocate Vimal Srivastava contended that the additional sessions judge of Lucknow had rightly convicted and sentenced the appellants in 2014 on the basis of circumstantial evidence which clearly proved that the 2, who were neighbours, had not only raped a minor child but also strangled her after beating her black and blue. He stressed that the appellants did not deserve any leniency. According to the FIR lodged by the victim's father, the girl (12) went out on the evening of September 4, 2012, to relieve herself but did not return. Her father and others launched a search but in vain. The girl's disrobed body was found in a field the next day, following which her father lodged an FIR against unknown persons. Blood stains were also found near the body. Suspicious conduct of Putai and Dileep and evidence found during the investigation helped nail them. (source: Press Trust of India) MALAYSIA: Let judges decide on death sentence, say legal eagles Legal experts have proposed that judges be given the discretion to impose the death penalty on accused persons who commit violent crimes. They cautioned against a blanket removal of the capital punishment, saying it would send the wrong message to would-be offenders that their lives would be spared even if they are found guilty. Retired Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram said public interest might demand the retention of the death penalty in cases such as the rape or murder of children. "The circumstances surrounding the crime may be so gruesome that it requires the offender be put to death," he told FMT. Instead of scrapping the death penalty for all offences, he suggested that the courts be given the discretion to impose either a prison term or the death sentence. He said this had been the practice prior to 1983, when judges were given the option to impose a custodial sentence or order the hanging of convicted persons in drug trafficking cases. He was responding to the announcement by de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong that amendments to abolish the death penalty would be tabled in the coming Parliament sitting. The mandatory death sentence is currently imposed for drug trafficking, kidnapping, possession of firearms and waging war against the king. Lawyer A Srimurugan suggested that Malaysia emulate India, where courts are allowed to decide whether to take the life of a convicted person. "This is also known as the rarest of rare case tests, as pronounced by their Supreme Court in two cases," he said. In India, he said, life imprisonment was the norm while the death sentence was the exception. In Malaysia, he added, once the prosecution proves the crime of murder or trafficking, the court has no choice but to impose the capital punishment. "A jail term is allowed only if the trial court orders the accused to enter defence on a reduced charge, or the prosecution amends the charge to culpable homicide not amounting to murder or possession of drugs." He said the government’s decision to abolish the death penalty was a knee-jerk reaction to please the public, as pledged in Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto. He urged for a detailed study to be carried out on the implications of a blanket ban on the death penalty. Srimurugan also suggested that those charged with trafficking who were proven to be mere carriers be exempted from the death sentence. "But kingpins and drug manufacturers should not be spared as they are responsible for untold suffering for the nation and its citizens," he said. Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali agreed that discretion should be given to judges as they were the triers of facts and law. "Judges are trained in
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October 13 BOTSWANA: Botswana using fellow prisoners as hangmen for death row inmates - Official Botswana is allegedly using fellow prisoners to carry out executions of death row inmates, APA learned here on Monday.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Justice and Security Segakweng Tsiane told the Public Accounts Committee that they decided to use inmates as hangmen after locals failed to respond to an advert that invited them to apply. After failing to get candidates for the position, the government had to turn to the Department of Prisons for assistance. "We turned to the Department of Prisons to capacitate us," Tsiane said. She however could not state the number of death row inmates has Botswana executed since independence from Britain in 1966. According to Tsiane, the inmates who had acted as hangmen are, however, left traumatised by the experience and now demanding that they be provided with counselling. "They are offered counselling before carrying out the executions and after that," she said. The official said the ministry has re-advertised the hangmen position in an attempted to outsource the service to private companies. (source: journalducameroun.com) NIGERIA: Group seeks ends to death penalty A Lagos-based human rights group, Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP), yesterday urged the federal and state governments to put an end to death penalty in the country. In statement signed by its Senior Legal Officer, Pamela Okoroigwe, to commemorate the 16th World Day against the Use of the Death Penalty with the theme "Living conditions on death row", LEDAP asked government at all levels to put an end to the use of the death penalty. It said that in the meantime,government should "urgently introduce moratorium on sentencing and execution, and improve the conditions of detentions of death row inmates." It recalled how it has "consistently campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty by providing direct free legal assistance to death row inmates, supporting legislative enactment on moratorium, conducting public poll survey on the use of death penalty and the inhumane living conditions of death row inmates. The statement added: "Our findings revealed that death row prisoners are subjected to 2 distinct punishments: the death sentence itself and the prolonged years of living in inhumane conditions that include poor health care, overcrowding, poor feeding and poor medical attention. "Prisoners on death-row live in a state of constant uncertainty over their possible date of execution. For some death-row prisoners, the anxiety results in a sharp deterioration in their mental and emotional well- being. This manifested in the case of Olatunji Olaide, who was exonerated by the Court of Appeal after spending 24 years on death row. Olatunji died shortly after his release from prison due to his terrible ill health and untreated eye condition from prolonged detention. "LEDAP is particularly worried that the appalling prison conditions have serious damaging effects on the mental and physical health of the inmates. These conditions further infringe on their rights, particularly right to human dignity and freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. LEDAP believes that the human rights of death row inmates should be protected at all times. The dignity of the human person must be preserved, both within and outside the prison walls." (source: The Nation) GHANA: Ghanaians want death penalty expunged from justice system - Survey A survey conducted by the African Institute for Crime, Policy and Governance Research (AFRICPGR) has revealed that majority of Ghanaians want the death penalty expunged from the criminal justice system. Findings of the survey, which were presented at a workshop at the University of Ghana, Legon, yesterday, showed that of the 2,460 views sampled, 48.3 % of the respondents supported calls for the abolishing of the death penalty while 19.7 % were in favour of its retention. For those who disapproved of the sentencing of persons convicted by the courts to death either by hanging or firing squad, they recommended the replacement of that sentence with other forms of punishment such as life imprisonment. Workshop The survey was led by 2 directors of the AFRICPGR, Dr Kofi E. Boakye and Dr Justice Takebe, and was presented to students of the University of Ghana as part of activities marking the 16th World Day of the Death Penalty, which was on the theme: "Living conditions on death row". The findings were presented by a lecturer at the Institute of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Dr Francis Annor. Death row Taking the participants through conditions in Ghana's prisons, a Deputy General Staff Officer of the Ghana Prisons Services, Chief Superintendent of Prisons Mr Thomas Mahama, said Ghana's prisons were currently holding a total of 170 persons
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October 12 ANTIGUA: Top Cop says Death Penalty Can Be a Deterrent Acting Commissioner of Police, Atlee Rodney, believes there is still a place for the death penalty in today's society. "Over the years we keep hearing all the debate about it, but I think it still has its place. I think it can serve as a deterrent to some of the heinous crimes we are having. Some persons think it is inhumane but you need to have certain things to serve as a deterrent to crime. I am one of the people who think it still has its place," the acting commissioner said. He was speaking with OBSERVER media on the occasion of World Day Against the Death Penalty. Rodney acknowledged that there are those who would argue that there are countries which continue to practice the death penalty which would suggest that it has not acted as a deterrent. "But, I think that we need to have some sort of strong punishment to send a serious message in those cases," Rodney said. "It is still on the books but there has been a lot of procedures and rulings from higher courts that give certain instructions." The World Day Against the Death Penalty is observed annually on October 10 since 2003. It has been spearheaded by the World Coalition against the Death Penalty (WCADP). Many renowned institutions that support the anti-death penalty thrust, including Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, are members of WCADP. The annual commemoration highlights the plight of those who have been denied the most essential human right of all, the right to life, by the justice system. This year, the aim is to raise awareness of the inhumane living conditions of people sentenced to death. The Greater Caribbean For Life has highlighted that too often, the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of prisoners are ignored, with many death row inmates confined to harsh and inhumane conditions. The rules set out the minimum standards for good prison management, to include ensuring the rights of prisoners are respected. In a release, the activist group listed overcrowding, solitary confinement, substandard physical and psychological health care, as well as insufficient access to natural light as some of the problems plaguing those condemned to death. (source: stluciatimes.com) UGANDA: Journey of Hope Organisation visits the Commission Staff from Journey of Hope Uganda chapter together with US based chapter paid a courtesy visit to Uganda Law Reform Commission. The purpose of this visit was to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and replace it with alternative forms of punishment. This will end the cycle of violence that capital punishment perpetuates in society. The speakers shared their stories about the process of healing through reconciliation. Among these included family members of those executed by death row and those exonerated from death row. (source: ulrc.go.ug) IRAN: Iranian Yarsani Man; Killed by Security Forces or Executed in Prison? Iranian state-run media say Ramin Majidifar has been executed on rape charges while some human rights activists say he was initially arrested by security forces for propagating his religious beliefs. On October 9, 2018, Iranian Semi-official Fars News Agency reported that Ramin Majidifar was executed in the Iranian city of Hamedan on rape charges. According to the report, he was arrested on August 16, 2018, in Hamedan and was convicted to death for raping 10 people, kidnapping, recording video of his sexual relationship with women and blackmailing them. However, some human rights activists, including Iran HRM website, report that he was arrested in the Iranian city of Tuyserkan -not Hamedan- and for charges like spreading propaganda for Yarsan faith. Ramin Majidifar was a Yarsani, belong to Yarsan faith which has hundreds of thousands of followers, mostly in western Iran and among Kurds. Some human rights activists claim that he was killed while was under arrest by security forces, and his execution was announced to cover the murder. Lack of transparency in Iranian Judiciary and suppressing freedom of the press makes it difficult for the media and human rights activist to obtain credible information in such cases. In this regard, Iran Human Rights (IHR) Persian website has invited those who know about Ramin’s case or have pieces of related evidence, to contact the organization. (source: Iran Human Rights) PAKISTAN: LHC sets aside death sentence handed to PML-N MNA Abid Raza, 3 others in murder case The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday acquitted PML-N MNA Chaudhry Abid Raza and 3 others in a murder case, DawnNewsTV reported. A 2-member LHC division bench comprising Justice Sardar Shamim Ahmad and Justice Shehbaz Rizvi was hearing the case. A trial court had sentenced Raza in 1999 under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA)
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Oct. 11 IRAQ: Death penalty for Etihad bomb suspect A former Islamic State commander who allegedly conspired with his Sydney-based brothers to blow up an Etihad flight has been sentenced to death. The ABC reported that Tarek Khayat was sentenced by Alrasafah Central Criminal Court in Baghdad over his role with the terrorist group in Iraq. The Australian broadcaster said the 48-year-old Lebanese citizen was arrested in the Syrian city of Raqqa and has 10 days to appeal against his sentence of death by hanging. He was not charged over the Etihad plot but Australian Federal Police alleged last year he directed his brothers in Sydney to plant the bomb on an Etihad Airbus A380 flying between Sydney and Abu Dhabi in July, 2017. 2 of his brothers, Kahled and Mahmoud, are in custody in Australia awaiting trial on 2 charges each of planning or preparing to commit a terrorist act. They have pleaded not guilty and are due to face court next year. Australian police alleged the brothers tried to get an improvised explosive device on the plane on July 15 by planting it in the luggage of an unwitting 4th brother, Amer. The bomb was allegedly concealed in a kitchen meat mincer but the bag containing it was not checked in because Etihad staff told Amer his bags were overweight. He then flew out on the plane unaware of the plan, according to the AFP. Police alleged the brothers then hatched a second plot to build "a chemical dispersion device" using toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. The ABC said Amer was arrested by Lebanese authorities 11 days after arriving and has been in custody while authorities attempt to determine his involvement in the alleged plot. News Corp reported that Tarek Khayat claimed after his sentence was brought down that he was not involved in the Etihad plan. (source: airlineratings.com) LEBABON: International pressure targets death penalty in Lebanon French Ambassador Bruno Foucher Wednesday called for Lebanon to formally abolish capital punishment, at a conference commemorating World Day Against the Death Penalty. (source: The Daily Star) IRAN: Kurdish political prisoner loses final death sentence appeal Iran's supreme court has upheld a death sentence given to a Kurdish political prisoner for providing a dissident party with food and shelter. Hedayat Abdollahpour, who maintains his innocence, has lost the final stage of his appeal against the sentence. The verdict has been announced to his lawyer and family. Hossein Ahmadi Niaz, the political prisoner's lawyer has confirmed the news. Hedayat Abdollahpour was first arrested on June 15, 2016, along with 6 other people. They were charged with providing the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) with food and shelter. However, their relatives refuted the accusations and claimed that the Revolutionary Guards makes up these accusations to intimidate local Kurds. In 2016, Hedayat Abdollahpour was sentenced to death for the 1st time, and the other co-respondents were sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia. Abdollahpour was physically and mentally tortured while in custody, according to his father, Abubakr Abdollahpour. "He's been under torture the whole time, but he is innocent. Our son never collaborated with the democrat party," he said. On January 18, 2018, Hedayat Abdollapour was for the 2nd time sentenced to death by Urmia Revolutionary Court on charge of "cooperation with a Kurdish opposition party." *** More Than 207 Executed Since the Beginning of the Year in Iran According to statistics department of Iran Human Rights (IHR), Iranian authorities have executed 207 prisoners including 5 juvenile offenders between January 1 and October 10, 2018. This report is being published on the occasion of the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty, which aims at raising awareness on the inhumane living conditions of people sentenced to death. This year we celebrate World Day Against the Death Penalty while several human rights activists are in prison for their peaceful activities against the death penalty in Iran. Atena Daemi, Narges Mohammadi and Nasrin Sotoudeh are among them and are held in women ward at the Evin prison in Tehran. On this day, Iran Human Rights (IHR) urges the civil society institutions as well as Iranian citizens to join the abolitionists' movement. IHR also calls on the international community to demand an unconditional end to juvenile and public executions and immediate release of imprisoned anti-death penalty activists. "These demands must be on top of the agenda in the bilateral and multilateral dialogue between the members of the international community and the Iranian authorities," said IHR's director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam. He continued: "The death penalty is an inhumane punishment that dictators use to spread fear among the people in order to continue their
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Oct. 11 SOUTH KOREA: '7 in 10 Koreans oppose death penalty' The majority of South Koreans agree that the death penalty should be abolished and replaced with alternative forms of punishment, the state-run human rights body announced Wednesday. According to data from the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, 7 out of 10 Koreans are against retaining capital punishment on the condition that serious punitive measures are put in place to deter crime. The commission released the data at a conference held to mark World Day Against the Death Penalty. The survey showed that few Koreans were willing to do away with capital punishment immediately. Only 4.4 % of respondents favored its immediate abolition, whereas 15.9 % agreed that it should be abolished at some point in the future. However, the number rose steeply, to 66.9 %, when the question was rephrased to ask respondents if the death penalty should be replaced with other punitive measures. Alternatives that respondents favored adopting in place of capital punishment included "absolute life imprisonment," which topped the list with 78.9 % in favor. This was followed by "absolute life imprisonment with punitive damages,' favored by 43.9 % of survey respondents. Currently, the most common penalty for murder is a life sentence. The abolition of the death penalty has been the subject of much debate in Korea, where the last execution took place in December 1997. According to the Ministry of Justice, there are currently 61 prisoners on death row. (source: The Korea Herald) ASIA: Asian countries urged to end death penalty, respect right to life The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and 28 civil society organizations in Asia condemn the recent imposition of the death penalty by the Singaporean authorities on Abdul Wahid Bin Ismail, Mohsen Bin Na'im, and Zainudin bin Mohamed. All 3 were convicted of drug-related offences and were executed on 5 October 2018. As a network of human rights organizations, FORUM-ASIA sees the death penalty as a grave violation of the right to life - the most fundamental and essential human right for other rights to be realized. It serves no purpose to the State and its people in their pursuit of justice. We therefore call on the Government of Singapore, and other Governments in Asia that retain the death penalty to immediately impose a moratorium to the death penalty, as the 1st step towards its abolition. The use of the death penalty has seen a global decline in recent years, signifying a movement towards more effective ways of deterring crimes.[1] Despite this global trend, several Governments in Asia continue to use the death penalty. Just this year, India expanded the scope of crimes covered by the death penalty. The numbers of those sentenced to capital punishment in Bangladesh yearly remains unabated. The region has also seen an increased tendency to use the death penalty for drug-related offences. Indonesia has been executing primarily those convicted of drug trafficking in recent years. It is estimated that China executes hundreds to thousands yearly for drug trafficking or murder, although exact figures are hard to find. The Sri Lankan Cabinet recently approved the President's proposal to take steps towards implementing the capital punishment to those sentenced to death for drug offences and who continue to operate 'drug rackets' while in prison. In the Philippines, several State officials continue to push for the revival of the death penalty, despite having previously committed itself to its abolition. Governments continue to retain the death penalty despite troubling concerns. There is no convincing evidence to support that the death penalty deters crime. In Mongolia, the death penalty was abolished after it was recognized that the threat of execution did not have a deterrent effect.[2] Arguments for its use are based more on public opinion rather than on solid scientific evidence. The effect of the death penalty disproportionately affects those who are often the poor and the most marginalized, as they have limited access to resource and power. Judicial systems worldwide are all susceptible to abuse. In Vietnam, the cases of Ho Duy Hai and Le Van Manh, who were sentenced to death despite gaps in evidence and allegations of police impunity, cast strong doubts on the credibility of the judicial system. Capital punishment is irreversible; it violates the right to life and the right to live free from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment - fundamental rights of all human beings. It goes against our goals of promoting rehabilitation for the convicted, and the values and standards of universal human rights we all stand for. On the World Day against the Death Penalty, we express our grave concern on the continuing use of the death penalty in Asia. We call on all Governments to work for the
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Oct. 11 GLOBAL: Moving away from the mandatory death penalty Today marks the 16th World Day against the Death Penalty, once again providing an opportunity to reflect on the use of the death penalty around the world. The path towards abolition is frequently paved by progressive restriction in the imposition and application of capital punishment. Accordingly, this year we consider the decline of the mandatory death penalty, a practice which an ever-increasing number of countries have recognised as cruel, unfair and ultimately incompatible with fundamental human rights protections. Approximately 29 countries around the world continue to impose mandatory death sentences for crimes including murder, drug trafficking and blasphemy, amongst other offences. In many countries, the practice of imposing the death penalty automatically originates in laws inherited under British colonial rule. Since then, an increasing number of countries have rejected the archaic practice as incompatible with evolving standards of decency. In the past 12 months the global consensus against the mandatory death penalty has continued to grow. 2 more courts, in Kenya and Barbados, have ruled the automatic imposition of a death sentence incompatible with their national constitutions, bringing the total number of countries where The Death Penalty Project has successfully brought or supported constitutional challenges to the mandatory death penalty to 13 nations. As a direct consequence, thousands have been removed from death rows around the world. We look forward to continuing to support efforts to end the mandatory death penalty and are hopeful that movement away from this practice will continue. For instance, there are promising signs in Malaysia, where the new government is exercising leadership and has pledged to abolish mandatory death sentencing. Nevertheless, even with discretionary sentencing it is impossible to guard against arbitrariness in the application of death penalty. The experience of India, taking just one example, shows how judicial discretion can give way to a lethal lottery, where the decision to impose the death penalty depends significantly on who is hearing the case. Stringent sentencing guidelines and adherence to safeguards may provide some protection for those facing capital charges but ultimately, whether the sentence is mandatory or discretionary, it is impossible to ensure that the death penalty is applied consistently and without arbitrariness, discrimination or error. Despite this, it is clear that moving away from the mandatory death penalty is a step in the right direction on the road towards complete abolition of capital punishment. (source: deathpenaltyproject.org, Oct. 10) *** 'Put an end to the death penalty now', urges Guterres, marking World Day Progress made toward eliminating the death penalty has been "marred by setbacks,' said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement on Wednesday, marking the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty. He noted that hundreds of offenders - often impoverished, women or hailing from minority groups - have been executed without legal representation or transparent criminal proceedings, which might have spared them from the death penalty. "In some countries, people are sentenced to death in secret trials, without due process, increasing the potential for error or abuse" - UN chief Guterres Some 170 States have abolished or put a stay on executions, since the UN General Assembly's 1st call for a moratorium on its use, in 2007. Mr. Guterres noted the lack of transparency in some countries where the death penalty is still used, underscoring its incompatibility with human rights standards. Mr. Guterres said he was "deeply disturbed" in particular, by the number of juvenile offenders being executed. Only last week, Zeinab Sekaanvand Lokran of Iran, was executed for killing her husband, when she was 17, despite a trial marred by irregularities. "In some countries, people are sentenced to death in secret trials, without due process, increasing the potential for error or abuse" said the UN chief. These comments echo those of UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Andrew Gilmour. In an interview with UN News last November, he said there was "far too much secrecy, and it's quite indicative of the fact that although many countries are giving up the practice, those that retain it, nevertheless feel that they have something to hide." He noted the majority of executions today are carried out in China, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Guterres concluded with a call for all nations to abolish the practice of executions. "I call on those remaining, to join the majority and put an end to the death penalty now," he added. (source: un.org) FRANCE: 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty (10 October 2018) On this 16th
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October 10 UNITED KINGDOM: Lord Ahmad marks World Day Against the Death Penalty Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad reaffirms the UK's long-standing policy on the death penalty. Minister for Human Rights, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said: On World Day Against the Death Penalty, we reaffirm the UK’s long-standing policy to oppose the use of the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The death penalty undermines human dignity, there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, and any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreparable. With the Magna Carta Fund we work globally through our diplomatic network and with international experts to reduce use of the death penalty and to work towards its abolition. We call on the 73rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations to vote in favour of the Resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty. We will continue to work with other states, parliaments and civil society groups who share this goal. (source: www.gov.uk) BELARUS: I didn't know my country had the death penalty - until they executed my father My father was sentenced to death in Belarus in 2016. 10 months later, he was executed. We were only notified 1 month after his death, as is usual in Belarus. I used to visit my father in prison once a month. He was escorted to our meetings by 5 prison guards. His hands were tied together and he couldn't see where he was going. He was always stressed when he came to see me. He knew he was either going to see me, his lawyer or he was going to be shot. The prison guards would stay with us, listening carefully to what we were talking about. We never spoke about what he did or about his case. We only spoke about personal matters. I remember the last time I saw my father. It was on 5 November 2016. He was saying: 'Everything is fine, we have enough time, don't worry.' One prison guard was joking ironically: 'Yes, you have a bit of time. Just a bit left.' The guard was making it clear that my father's execution was going to happen sooner or later. He wanted to crush my father's morale while I was there. I can only imagine how they acted one on one, with no relatives or loved ones present. I gave my father a parcel, thinking I would go again a month later. Just as I was planning to visit him again, we got the letter. He'd been shot the day I went to see him. We didn't ask for any of his personal belongings. My mother was scared they would send us his prison uniform. But it's a shame because he had personal photographs. I think they threw them out or burnt them - they could have returned them to us. My father had been accused of killing his girlfriend but the whole trial was very strange. It was more like a circus. 1 witness turned up drunk. His testimonies were contradictory, even the judge questioned it. The witness was saying: 'Oh, I can't remember exactly.' The entire case was built on such testimonies and evidence. 'Nobody else could have done it' was the main line of argument in the case and the fact that my father had a criminal record. The court didn't care about who else could have done it. It's bizarre but that's how it was - our government decided the outcome. The death penalty is a longstanding practice in Belarus. It’s thought that during the Soviet times up to 250,000 people were executed and buried in a place called Kurapaty. It might seem like a long time ago, but it's still happening today. People are executed and nobody is notified. Families have no idea where their loved ones are buried. For us, it's hard to come to terms with what's happened because we didn't bury my father, we didn't see his body - so it's like he's still out there somewhere, alive and well. We do have a plot for his grave. We've kept it very plain, but it doesn't stop us from praying for him. It's harder for my mother because some people keep telling her he's still alive. Others call and say they can show her where he's buried - if we pay. There are few people who pay attention to the fact we still have the death penalty in Belarus - so I am grateful to organisations such as Amnesty International which continue to draw public attention to the problem and which campaigned for my father's death sentence to be commuted. After he was sentenced to death, nobody ever discussed it with me in our small town in Belarus. However, people on the internet had a lot to say. People didn't understand why my mother and I supported him. Some said we should be shot as well or placed in a psychiatric hospital. People also said things about my 4-year-old daughter. That's what hurt me the most. They said she should be shot because she will grow up to be the same. People often ask me why I tell my story. I don't talk about political issues, I'm not interested. I am telling my personal story, how it affected my family.
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October 10 MALAYSIA: Why the delay in abolishing death penalty? Today, on the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty, Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) wants to remind the Malaysian government that it has yet to make good its promise to abolish the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia. In the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, it was clearly stated that "The Pakatan Harapan government will revoke the following laws: Sedition Act, Prevention of Crime Act 1959...Mandatory Death by Hanging in all Acts..." Currently in Malaysia, the death penalty is mandatory for about 12 offences, while about 20 other offences are punishable by a discretionary death penalty. Murder and drug trafficking carry the mandatory death penalty but many of these mandatory death penalty offences do not even involve in death or grievous injuries to victims. The effect of abolishing the mandatory death penalty will restore judicial discretion when it comes to sentencing. Judges will thereafter be able to evaluate each and every convicted person and determine what the just and fair sentence should be, after taking into account all factors and circumstances. The mandatory death penalty is undemocratic as it violates the democratic principle of separation of powers. The legislature (Parliament) has robbed the judiciary of their rightful role and power when it comes to sentencing. When a law provides for just one mandatory sentence, in this case death, judges on finding a person guilty of the said offence, have no choice but to sentence the convicted to death, even if he/she does not justly deserve to be hanged to death. Many of the politicians and political parties that are now in power, previously in opposition, were always for the abolition of the death penalty, but now when in power, it is disappointing to see that they are procrastinating. Further, it must be reminded that they are yet to make good their election promise to repeal all laws that provide for 'Mandatory Death by Hanging...', which was a decision and commitment of all the four Pakatan Harapan parties. As reported by The Star on June 28, there are 1,267 people on death row or 2.7% of the prison population of about 60,000 people. 35 executions took place from 2007 to 2017 The death penalty in Malaysia currently is provided for secular or ordinary laws, not in Islamic law. As such, there is no reasonable justification for any Muslim in Malaysia to oppose abolition of the death penalty on the grounds that Islam allows death penalty for certain specified offences. In Islam, there is a strict requirement to comply with Islamic Criminal Procedure and Evidential requirements. Even then, in Islam, there are ways that the death penalty can be avoided. As the Acts that now provide for death penalty in Malaysia are in the secular law, politicians and their parties that use the argument that Islam allows for the death penalty to oppose the abolition, are very wrong. They need to demonstrate leadership, not fear. The "best interest of the child" is certainly best served by incarceration of a parent, sibling or relative rather than having them hung to death by the state. Malaysia, who has ratified the Child Rights Convention, has an obligation to do what is in the best interest of the child, and as such, this is yet another reason why the death penalty must be abolished. The possibility of miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable. This is yet another reason why the death penalty needs to be abolished. We recall the words of the then minister in the prime minister's department Nazri Abdul Aziz, who said "No criminal justice system is perfect. You take a man's life and years later, you find out that another person did the crime. What can you do?"(as quoted in The Star on Aug 29, 2010) In the Malaysian context today, it would have been great injustice if the 2 convicted for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu had been hanged, for then it may result in others involved escaping justice. Likewise in other cases where perpetrators may still be at large, yet to be arrested, charged and tried. Abolition of the death penalty is an ineluctable global trend as 106 countries had abolished the death penalty in law for all crimes by the end of 2017 while 142 countries had abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Malaysia, embarrassingly, is amongst the few countries who still retains the out-dated penalty and carry out executions. In 2018, Malaysia, under Umno-BN, brought into effect the abolition of the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking. It has been about 5 months since the formation of the Pakatan Harapan-led government, but we have yet to see bills being tabled that will lead to the abolition of the death penalty. Our hope is that we will see this happening in the next Parliamentary session or at
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October 10 JAPAN: Mystery still surrounds Aum incident after mass executions An expert opinion regarding the mental state of a death row inmate from the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult pointing to mind control was never viewed by any Japanese court, raising questions about whether the recent executions of the cult members were carried out after the whole picture of their crimes was fully clarified. The 45-page paper shows the inmate, Satoru Hashimoto, "was under strong influence, or mind control, of the Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara and he could not reject any unjust orders from the doomsday cult leader," according to Masahide Kawai, a defense lawyer of Hashimoto. Convicted of involvement in the 1994 deadly sarin nerve gas attack in the central Japan city of Matsumoto and the murders of a lawyer, his wife and their 1-year-old son in 1989, Hashimoto was hanged on July 26 at the age of 51, together with five other former Aum members. The lawyer, Tsutsumi Sakamoto, worked to help parents seeking to free their children of the cult's control. Their executions followed those of Asahara, whose real name was Chizuo Matsumoto, and six other members 20 days earlier. Some of them were accused of involvement in the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system and other crimes. The defense team of Hashimoto intended to submit the document to the Tokyo District Court as "new evidence" in applying for a retrial, after the death sentence on Hashimoto had been finalized by the Supreme Court in 2007. "After the top court rejected our appeal, we, the defense lawyers, immediately prepared an application for a retrial so we could send it to the district court with the 'expert opinion about mind control,'" Kawai said. "We repeatedly urged Mr Hashimoto to seek a retrial so we could clarify the dread of mind control." Hashimoto, however, never signed the application, saying, "I'm not entitled to seek a retrial as I committed what should never be forgiven...I feel really sorry." Kawai still has the statement and no judges will look through it, he said. It was compiled by Rissho University Professor Kimiaki Nishida, who repeatedly visited Hashimoto at the Tokyo Detention House before concluding that he was "a victim of mind control." Hashimoto initially contacted Aum to try to persuade a close friend to leave the cult, when Hashimoto was studying law at Waseda University. But he himself became interested in Aum and joined. "He was searching for what he should do in life, when he encountered Aum," Nishida said. "I sympathized with him as he was just like any ordinary youth, including me." Kawai was also once invited to join the Aum cult when he was a freshman at Chuo University, "as if it were recruitment for a student group." The lawyer said he might have taken a step in the wrong direction but backed out and often spoke with Hashimoto at the detention center about "a twist of fate" that might have led them to sit on opposite sides of the acrylic screen -- Kawai as a death row inmate and Hashimoto as defense attorney. These circumstances are key to understanding the real nature of the Aum crimes, which resulted in the deaths of 29 people among a total of over 6,500 victims, Kawai suggested. Following the executions of all 13 Aum death row inmates, then Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa said trial records of criminal cases involving Aum would be preserved permanently as part of efforts to prevent a repeat of similar crimes, but Nishida's statement will not be archived as it is not considered a trial document. Nishida, for his part, expressed a feeling of emptiness, saying, "Setting aside the debate on the pros and cons of the death penalty, the government should not have hanged the key witnesses before hearing all of what they had to say" if it really aimed to clarify the truth of the Aum crimes and learn lessons from them. The psychology expert said he was not necessarily satisfied with the scope of his paper on Hashimoto, as he had not been provided with sufficient time for the interviews with him and a prison guard had always been present during their talks. His statement ended with the remark that "it is desirable to conduct a more detailed study." Among the 13 executed inmates, 10 applied for retrials, but Kamikawa said that the government does not refrain from hanging a death row inmate even if he or she seeks a retrial. Touching on her comment, Yoshihiro Yasuda, who led the defense team of Asahara, said it breaches Article 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right of access to the court. "It also jeopardizes judicial independence to execute an inmate seeking a retrial, as long as a court still examines the petition," the Tokyo-based lawyer said. "Some former death row inmates were exonerated in postwar Japan after their pleas for retrials had been rejected repeatedly. Executions terminate such a development."
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October 9 EUROPE: 10 October: European Day against the Death Penalty The 47-nation Council of Europe and the 28-member European Union have published a joint declaration to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The declaration underlines the 2 organisations' strong opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances. "The death penalty is an affront to human dignity. It constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and is contrary to the right to life. The death penalty has no established deterrent effect and it makes judicial errors irreversible." - Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini Pending the introduction of a moratorium, the declaration calls on countries still applying the death penalty - which notably include Belarus, the only European country still using capital punishment - to commute any existing death sentences to prison terms. It also urges Council of Europe and EU member states to avoid involvement in the use of the death penalty by third countries, for example by acting to prevent the trade in goods that could subsequently be used to carry out executions. Through the European Convention on Human Rights, the Council of Europe has created a death penalty-free zone covering 47 countries and over 830 million people. No executions have taken place in any Council of Europe member state for more than 20 years. (source: coe.int) UNITED KINGDOM: Fear of infuriating Trump made UK drop opposition to death penalty for British Isis suspects, court toldSajid Javid was advised that Donald Trump could 'hold a grudge' and administration would be 'outraged' Sajid Javid "gave up" on attempts to ensure the US did not execute 2 British Isis militants because he feared sparking outrage in Donald Trump's administration, a court has heard. El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, who were allegedly members of a cell dubbed "The Beatles" and who killed a series of hostages in Syria, have been the subject of a legal dispute between the US and UK since being captured in January. Earlier this year a leaked letter showed that Mr Javid had agreed to hand evidence on the pair to American authorities for a federal prosecution, but without assurances that the death penalty would not be used. Elsheikh's mother, Maha Elgizouli, is attempting to launch a judicial review over the decision and claims it is unlawful. Her lawyers told the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, and Mr Justice Garnham that the "unprecedented and unjustified" move was taken against advice from government departments and violated precedent. Edward Fitzgerald QC said it was influenced by the "anticipated outrage" of members of the Trump administration if the UK demanded assurances that the pair would not face the death penalty. "[Mr Javid] wrongly exposed the suspects to the very real risk of an inhuman punishment," he told the Administrative Court in London. "This country should not facilitate the imposition in another country of a punishment which we ourselves recognise as inhuman and unlawful. "He took those steps in large part because of the anticipated outrage of certain political appointees in the Trump administration if the UK insisted on death penalty assurances. "We submit that the anticipated outrage of those US officials was not a proper consideration as a matter of law." Lawyers for Mr Javid argued that there is no common law prohibition on providing legal assistance to another country where it may result in proceedings leading to the death penalty. "This group [the Isis Beatles] is associated with some of the gravest offences perpetrated against civilians in Syria during the conflict," James Eadie QC told the court. "These beheadings are notorious globally, all but one having been filmed and posted on the internet." He said Mr Javid's decision was rational, did not create inconsistency with the UK's general death penalty policy and "did not misdirect himself in law or fact". Mr Eadie also said the government had not violated the Data Protection Act. The court heard that the US first made a request for "mutual legal assistance" (MLA) on Kotey and Elsheikh in June 2015, when the then home secretary, Theresa May, said material would not be handed over without assurances against the death penalty. In response the US Department of Justice offered partial assurances that it would not make direct use of the evidence in its case but the British government did not change its position. Mr Fitzgerald said it remained consistent even after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, and the Home Office was still demanding full assurances against the death penalty in August 2017. After Elsheikh and Kotey were detained in Syria in January, the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the 600 witness
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October 8 UNITED KINGDOM: UK dropped objection to death penalty for Isis suspects 'to appease US'High court told home secretary abandoned policy to avoid White House 'outrage' The home secretary, Sajid Javid, decided to cooperate with US authorities in the prosecution of 2 alleged Islamic State fighters, without assurances they would not face the death penalty, in order to avoid "political outrage" in the Trump administration, the high court has been told. The allegation came as the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, and Mr Justice Garnham heard an application on behalf of the mother of El Shafee Elsheikh over the legality of the Home Office’s agreement to provide evidence to US prosecutors. Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, who were raised in Britain, are alleged to have been part of an Isis terrorism cell, some of whom were known as "the Beatles", that is thought to have carried out 27 beheadings of US and UK citizens in Isis-held territory. Those killed included the British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines, and the American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. The pair, who have been stripped of their British citizenship, were captured in February by Syrian Kurdish fighters, prompting behind-the-scenes negotiations between the UK and the US governments over where they should be prosecuted. Javid's decision not to seek assurances from the US that the 2 men would not face the death penalty was in defiance of advice from the Foreign Office and senior civil servants, said Edward Fitzgerald QC, who represents Maha El Gizouli, Elsheikh's mother. It also broke with the policy of 2 previous home secretaries, Theresa May and Amber Rudd, who had sought such assurances in the cases of both suspects, the court was told. Javid's decision in May to abandon seeking such assurances over the death penalty was "in large part because of anticipated outrage among political appointments in the Trump administration", Fitzgerald said. The US attorney general, Jeff Sessions, had initially pressed for Elsheikh and Kotey to be prosecuted in the UK, acknowledging that 600 statements taken by the Metropolitan police's counter-terrorism command would be needed to convict them. At a later US Senate panel hearing, Sessions expressed "disappointment that the British are not willing to try the case but had tried to tell [US prosecutors] how to try them", Fitzgerald said. Gizouli was not bringing that case "to excuse the appalling acts of which her son is accused", he added. The issue with which she is legitimately concerned is whether the home secretary has made a legal decision. "It's relevant that the families of the victims have said they want justice but not the death penalty." If imposed, Elsheikh and Kotey would suffer a "gruesome and painful" death through lethal injection. Executions in the US are often long-delayed and delivered through a system "that is unreliable, tortuous and experimental", Fitzgerald said. Defending the decision, Sir James Eadie, for the home secretary, said in written submissions that it was accepted that Elsheikh was outside the protections of the Human Rights Act. Those arguing for assurances over the death penalty faced "insuperable barriers" in showing that there was a common law right that the home secretary had to "protect an individual's life from the actions of a 3rd party", Eadie said. Nor was there any common law prohibition on the provision of legal assistance where it might be used to impose the death penalty in a foreign state, he added. Elsheikh was captured in January. Metropolitan police documents written shortly afterwards suggest he and Kotey were being held by US forces in Iraq, the court was told. This is the 1st time there had been a "deliberate attempt" to depart from the long-established UK policy of opposing the death penalty around the world, Fitzgerald said. The only previous incident, in 2014, involved British police cooperating with officers in Thailand, but when it was opposed, he said, the courts stopped it on the grounds that the police had "acted unlawfully and failed to have regard for public policy". Not only had Javid not sought assurances over the death penalty, the court was told, he even decided not to take up earlier partial assurances the Americans had offered over not sending the men to Guantánamo Bay detention centre. The British ambassador to Washington had warned Javid that seeking death penalty assurances would provoke "something close to outrage among Sessions, James Mattis [the US defence secretary] and Mike Pompeo [the US secretary of state]. "These political appointees would be outraged and they will tell the president and he will hold a grudge," Fitzgerald said, and that would damage relations between the UK and US. Javid met Sessions in late May. According to records of a senior civil servant released to the court, Javid said
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October 7 SOUTH AFRICA: Death sentence or 2nd chance is the question Of late, the debate regarding the death penalty has resurfaced. This follows the unabated crime wave in the country, underlined by the recent crime stats that show that about 50 people are murdered daily on these shores. In South Africa, back in 1995, the Constitutional Court abolished the death penalty, ending a decades-old practice of executing criminals convicted of serious crimes which had given the country one of the world's highest rates of capital punishment. In America, the home of 'democracy' (if that term even exists anymore), the death penalty is still legal in 31 states and illegal in 19 others. The death penalty has been an ongoing debate over many years, with the argument that no one who commits a horrible crime deserved a 2nd chance. This included, it seemed, crimes against children. The recent incident at a restaurant in Pretoria, during which a girl (7) was raped in the bathroom over the weekend, in broad daylight, will most likely fuel the debate in the minds of many. I'm sure there will be some who will say that no time behind bars will be punishment enough for the terrible trauma and pain afflicted on an innocent life. And then there is the ongoing argument that the prisons are already overcrowded. Some might still frown upon sentences handed down to murderers and rapists. Then again, if we live in a democracy, we then have to put our faith in the judicial system, otherwise we become a county where the rule of law is abolished for the sake of mob justice and tyranny. In America, the rule of law prevailed when a judge in Pennsylvania jailed the US comedian Bill Cosby for three to 10 years for sexual assault. Cosby, 81, was also categorised as a sexually violent predator. So where does this leave us with the death penalty? The reality is that our government has no intention to budge on its decision of 1995. This is evident from the efforts made by correctional services, throughout the nation, to rehabilitate offenders and to reintegrate them back into society. The Advertiser has now for many years written articles on the programmes run by the Boksburg Correctional Services to empower inmates with education, and with the necessary skills to be productive members of communities again. Recently, during a graduation ceremony of inmates at the Boksburg prison, The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, urged employers not to close their doors when ex-offenders with relevant qualifications seek job opportunities at their companies. On that day, a total of 127 offenders from various correctional centres in Gauteng graduated with various qualifications ranging from certificates to masters’ degrees from different institutions. The Advertiser is also aware of a fully-fledged juvenile school that is now operational at the Boksburg premises (watch out for this story). So clearly, the government's intention is to rather empower than to hang, or to flip the switch. The debate over the death penalty really boils down to: a person deserves a 2nd chance. There will be varying opinions on this subject, but personally, I believe so. So many of those behind bars are themselves victims of abuse, trauma, hurt, pain, and so the saying goes that hurting people do hurt others. Some are behind bars because life handed them a rough deck of cards, others were driven by desperation to survive and others just made a bad choice a terrible decision. Such actions can never be justified, no matter the crime, but let us remember there is always a story involved and a story that we do not know. Life is really all about 2nd chances. We have all made terrible decisions and wrong choices. Let us just be honest about it. For some of us - because of luck, grace or fate - we are fortunately not in prison. In our democracy, we have to allow the rule of law to prevail, for in this country you have to believe there are still consequences to your actions - determined by the courts. We also have to believe people can be remorseful of their deeds, no matter how terrible, and they can become better spiritually, emotionally or psychologically. If we don’t, then we have lost all hope in humanity, and thus our own humanity becomes enslaved by the cruelty of our own fears and intolerances. (source: Editorial, boksburgadvertiser.co.za) MALAYSIA: Liew: Study on move to abolish death penalty at final stage A study to abolish the mandatory death sentence is in its final stage before being presented to the Cabinet, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong. According to Liew, the study was conducted by the Attorney General's Chambers following the government's intention to abolish the death penalty made in accordance with International Standards on Human Rights. "I'm sure, if possible, we can table the
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News postings to this list will resume on Sunday, Oct. 7 October 3 KYGRYZSTAN: Kyrgyzstan is not ready for capital punishment, activist says Kyrgyzstan is not yet ready for the introduction of the death penalty, said Director of the Institute of Public Analysis Rita Karasartova at a round-table discussion in Bishkek on Oct 3. Introduction of capital punishment will not decrease the percentage of crimes. "Death penalty in our country won't work, because if a person sentenced to death has powerful relatives, the innocent one is to be killed," she said. (source: AKI Press) INDIA: Death penalty shrinking budget for crime prevention programs, sates policy paper Death penalty is shrinking budget for crime prevention programs, the Centre for Criminology & Public Policy (CCPP) has said, in a recently released policy paper. The think-tank has criticized the expansion of death penalty to child rapists, saying the move will "result in more acquittals than convictions." CCPP's Director and the paper's author Rochin Chandra said that the document has been prepared in consultation with several experts, including legal researchers, police officers, advocates, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and rehabilitation consultants. The paper has opined that before expanding death penalty to child rapists, the government should have carried out a scientific assessment to check whether death penalty has acted as a deterrent for crimes. The paper has highlighted the need for stricter implementation of laws, and diversion of public expenditure into child sexual-abuse prevention programs such as schemes for relief and rehabilitation of child victims. In its paper, Udaipur-based CCPP has also cited data to show the ineffectiveness of cost of death penalty as compared to its closest alternative-life imprisonment without parole. The paper mentions that during 2004-2015, about 1300 prisoners were put on death row, but of those, only 4 cases resulted in execution. "These figures show that legal process for death penalty is significantly longer and more complex than for life imprisonment, and applying such a punishment for child rape will only result in more acquittals than convictions", states the paper. Stating that there are loopholes in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018-which prescribes death penalty for child rapists-the paper calls the expansion of death penalty a "fiscally irresponsible decision." Emphasizing that the matters of death penalty take more time to be disposed of by courts, the think tank has said that expansion of death penalty will lead to increase in the cost of prison management. "The government will have to bear the expenses of locking up death row convicts, while also paying a team of judges, defence lawyers and prosecutors for many years - often decades - to debate whether a sentence of death should be imposed on them," according to the paper. Another argument cited by CCPP against expansion of death penalty is that the fear of death penalty may encourage rapists to kill their victim in order to cover up the crime and eliminate the prime witness. Elaborating on how execution of death penalty is shrinking the budget for crime prevention programs, Chandra cited the example of a public-police outreach program of Ahmedabad police "whose budget got shrunk on this account." "Because of government's heavy reliance on death penalty, the budget for such innovative and workable programmes is shrinking," said Chandra. Chandra added that CCPP will soon send the policy paper to the government for consideration. (source: newindianexpress.com) IRAN: Amnesty: Iran Executes Teenage Victim Of Domestic, Sexual Violence Iran has executed a female victim of domestic and sexual violence who was convicted of killing her husband when she was a minor, according to Amnesty International. The execution of Zeinab Sekaanvand is "profoundly unjust and shows the Iranian authorities' contempt for the right of children to life," the London-based human rights watchdog said on October 2. A statement said the 24-year-old was hanged early in the day in Urumieh central prison in West Azerbaijan province. An ethnic Kurd, Sekaanvand was 15 when she married her husband, according to Amnesty, and she was sentenced to death in October 2014 following a "grossly unfair trial" for allegedly stabbing him to death. Philip Luther, Amnesty International's research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said she "sought help many times from the authorities about her violent husband and alleged that her brother-in-law had raped her repeatedly." Instead of investigating the allegations, Iranian authorities "consistently ignored her and failed to provide her with any support as a victim of domestic and sexual violence," Luther added. He also called
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October 2 SOUTH AFRICA: Death penalty unfair to poor blacks When news of the Dros rape emerged, people started commenting on social networks. Most white folks assumed the perpetrator was a black man, hence they were furious and demanded the death penalty. When, however, it was reported that the alleged perpetrator was in fact white, the tone of their rage suddenly changed. All of a sudden, people who were hopping mad, wanting the rapist hanged, started recommending psychological evaluation. It didn't end there, Afrikaans newspapers started telling all and sundry that the fiancée of the alleged perpetrator is pregnant. I honestly didn't know what to make of that statement. Many black criminals have had their kids born while incarcerated and that has never been an issue. This is exactly why I'm opposed to the death penalty. My feeling is that poor blacks, who are poorly represented anyway, will be killed like flies. Let's first fix the justice system so that no one is above the law. Politicians have brought SA to its knees through unprecedented levels of looting and no one is behind bars. Until such things stop happening, we can't talk about the death penalty. The advent of DNA has showed that the US government has executed innocent people over the years. Sadly, most of them are African-Americans. George Junius Stinney Jr was only 14 when he was wrongly executed in 1944. He was black. Until rich black and white South Africans are made to pay for their sins like everyone else, the death penalty is not required. Richardson Mzaidume Pimville (source: Letter to the Editor, sowetanlive.co.za) ** IFP MP Narend Singh backs death penalty after relatives murder IFP MP Narend Singh, the brother-in-law of Musgrave Gardens widow Shakila Singh, said he believed it was about time the country held conversations about imposing sentences harsher than life imprisonment such as the death penalty, for people convicted of serious crimes such as murder and rape. Singh said the IFP expected Parliament to include the issue for debate at the next sitting after the party launched a motion calling for public engagement similar to ongoing conversations about the issue of the expropriation of land without compensation. Singh said the recent crime statistics were an indication that people needed to start having conversations about alternative punishments, including re-introducing the death penalty. His sister-in-law, Shakila Singh, 57, was found dead in her bedroom with duct tape binding her face and hands, and her feet bound by plastic cable ties, at her home on February 29, 2016. She had been suffocated. Her long-time domestic worker, Nonjabulo Mteki, 33, was convicted of robbery. The killers, Jumar Abdullar, 39, and Kennedy Amon Ngongi, 28, both from Tanzania, were convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Singh said the dead woman's family had got justice, albeit delayed, but they were concerned that a sentence of life imprisonment no longer sent out a strong message to criminals. The State alleged that Kenny Osika Oriki, from Nigeria, who ran a foreign exchange agency, had heard through Mteki that Singh owned jewellery and foreign currency. They planned to rob her andMteki would play along during the robbery. Mteki was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for her part in the robbery. Ngongi and Abdullar were sentenced to life imprisonment. Singh said the alarming level of crime showed that although the courts imposed the hash sentence of life imprisonment, criminals continued to commit crime. Women and children were still being raped and murder was escalating, he said. "Serious conversations about the punishment of criminals should take place. Criminals do not fear the law because they know that they will qualify for parole," he said. Singh said hasher punishment for refugees who entered the country and committed serious crimes should also form part of discussions. (source: iol.co.za) NIGERIA: Nigeria at 58 - Lawyers Renew Call for Abolishing Capital Punishments Almost every day in Nigeria, someone is sentenced to death. Many are wrongly condemned or imprisoned due to poor legal services. It is estimated that about 2,359 condemned prisoners are on death row across the country while about 650 Nigerians are on death row or facing capital charges in China, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietman, most of them for drug offences. The death penalty, according to experts, has been usually justified on two penological grounds, namely, that of elimination and deterrence. The experts, made up of professors of Law who gathered recently at a round table on revisiting death penalty in Nigeria, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), said African countries have been pursuing the easiest course, which is the elimination of the offenders from society.
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Oct. 1 MALAYSIA: Lens on death penalty Agilandewari Mainthan was just 3 years old when she was last held by her father. Her father, Mainthan, has spent the last 14 years on death row after being convicted of murder, a murder he claims he did not commit. Multiple discrepancies abound in the case, yet, Mainthan remains behind bars. The impact and effect of the death penalty in Malaysia has long been debated, hence, when lawyers Seira Sacha Abu Bakar and Sherrie Razak heard about Mainthan's case from their friend, human rights lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad who represented him for his 2nd review application at the Federal Court, they knew straight away that they have to highlight his story in a documentary. "We wanted to let people know about the severity of the death penalty and the impact it brings to individuals, that is why we created our story of Menunggu Masa, which means waiting for time," says Sherrie, who with her long-time friend Seira Sacha form the documentary filmmaking duo S-Ploited. Since they won the Freedom Film Festival grant in 2009 to make their documentary For No Silver Lining: The Perak Crisis on the state's constitutional crisis after the 2008 general election, S-Ploited have been bringing a legal insight to the local social documentary filmmaking scene with their films, from Death in Dilemma: The Final Curtain to Ombak Perubahan. Menunggu Masa is scheduled for screening this Saturday at this year's Freedom Film Festival, which is back from now until Oct 6 with another exciting lineup of thought-provoking social and human rights documentaries. Mainthan's complicated legal case is not only close to the hearts of the 2 as lawyers, but also as human rights advocates. "We feel if we do not tell Mainthan's story and what the family is going through, no one will know about it," says Sherrie. "Many will not understand how the justice system works and how it will affect not just the person facing the death sentence, but also those around him." There are various questions raised in Mainthan's case, they highlight. "One is who is this victim? The identity of the victim was raised at the 1st review application made by Mainthan and it was dismissed. Subsequently, a person who claimed that he was the only victim turned up in late 2016, but the new evidence was also dismissed by the courts. A total of 19 different judges have heard Mainthan's case since 2004." The case has taken a toll on the family. "When Mainthan was arrested, his eldest son was 4 years old and the youngest child was 1 year old. That was 14 years ago. "Their children grew up getting to know their father through prison visits. Despite growing up without having their father physically around, they still have high respect, love and care for their father. They are still hoping for their father to be released and to come home to them," they say. S-Ploited hope that by watching Menunggu Masa, the audience would understand the death penalty issue. "We have various NGOs and civil societies pushing for the abolishment of the death penalty but we still have a long way to go." On why they chose documentary filmmaking as another platform to fight for justice and human rights, S-Ploited say, "Even as lawyers, we feel that we should exhaust all means and methods for advocacy to fight for justice and human rights. "The courtroom battle is not mutually exclusive but when it comes for example for legislative amendments, the public and the parliamentarians play a huge role. In this case it is also about highlighting a case which exhausted all court levels. "Mainthan’s family has also submitted a letter to the the pardon's board to obtain a clemency. At this stage they are doing all they can with the hope that they are able to get Mainthan home. Families of a death penalty inmate are usually informed few days before the execution. As of June this year, it was reported that 1,267 people are waiting for execution in prison." Menunggu Masa will be followed by a Freedom Talk titled "Reforms under the new Government: Where are we now?" featuring a panel of experts who will not only look at provisions under the Penal Code which provide for the Death Penalty but also other opressive laws such as SOSMA, the Sedition Act and the Prevention of Crime Act, which "have no place in a country which portrays itself as a rights-conscious democracy". Those interested in the death penalty issue can also watch Countdown on Tuesday, which is a poetic documentary that tells the story of a family with their loved one currently on death row in Singapore. The FreedomFilmFest2018 is themed "Mend The Gap" and aims at drawing attention to how the gaps between the have and have nots, and the powerful and the powerless, are getting deeper and wider despite progress in science, technology and democracy. Along with Menunggu Masa, various political films will also be screened,
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September 30 PHILIPPINES: Dela Rosa on senatorial bid: Death penalty is my 1st agenda Director General of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said that the passage of the imposition of the death penalty will be his 1st agenda if he will be elected as senator in the 2019 midterm elections. Dela Rosa, who previously served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, has announced earlier his senatorial bid. He visited Cebu on Sunday (September 30) as the guest speaker of the celebration of the 2nd anniversary of the Anti Crime and Community Emergency Response Team at Hoopsdome in Lapu-Lapu City. (source: Cebu Daily News) PAKISTAN: Ex-judge sentenced to death in murder case An anti-terrorism court here on Saturday handed down death penalty to a former district judge, Sikandar Lashari, in a case pertaining to the murder of his fellow judge's son in Hyderabad. The then district and session judge Mithi, Sikandar Lashari, was among half a dozen accused charged with the murder of 19-year-old Aqib Shahani, son of judge Khalid Hussain Shahani on February 19, 2014. He was taken into custody on March 5 after the Sindh High Court suspended him from his post. According to the case (FIR 12/2014) lodged on a complaint of the deceased's cousin Hunain, Aqib, alias Kashif, was driving his car when armed men in another car intercepted him on Thandi Sarak, Hyderabad. They took him out of his car and sprayed him with bullets. He was shot dead in front of his mother, Shamsunissa, sisters, Komal and Nimra, and a cousin, Hunain, near Niaz Cricket Stadium on February 19, 2014. The FIR was registered at GOR police station under sections 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 6/7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The former judge was charged with allegedly instigating the killing since the deceased was reportedly in love with one of his daughters, according to the prosecution. A number of accused had been declared proclaimed offenders in the case. (source: arynews.tv) PTI MPA seeks death penalty for corrupt Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday tabled a resolution in the Punjab Assembly seeking death penalty for those involved in corruption. As per the details, PTI lawmaker Nadeem Qureshi submitted the resolution in which he said that corruption had destroyed state-institutions and crippled economic activities. It further said that it was the need of the hour to curb the menace of corruption once and for all to save the country. The resolution demands immediate legislation in this regard. (source: pakistantoday.com.pk) INDIA: Death Penalty For Rapists: Hanging By a ThreadMadhya Pradesh seems to be in a hurry to award the death penalty to rapists of minors. In the process, are due processes of law being followed? While justice delayed is justice denied, what happens when justice is delivered without following the due processes of law? This is what is happening in Madhya Pradesh, the 1st state to pass a law awarding death sentence to rapists of minor girls. The law was passed in February 2018 and already 12 death sentences have been handed out. Some of the accused are in their early 20s, while there is one 19-year-old. Most come from extremely poor socio-economic backgrounds and could not even get lawyers to defend themselves against these charges. This could well explain why the sentence of 24-year-old Motilal Ahirwar was passed within 4 days of the case being admitted in the lower court. It was admitted on August 4 and the sentence was passed on August 8. While the trial of Rajkumar, an autorickshaw driver who was accused of raping a 4-year-old girl on July 4, lasted 5 days, the verdict was given on July 27. As neither he nor his family could afford a lawyer, he was allowed 1 free of cost from the MP State Legal Services Authority. The lawyer assigned to him, BM Rathore, revealed that because of the speed with which the trial was conducted, he didn't even have time to speak to the accused. Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest number of rape cases in the country in 2016 - 4,882 out of 38,947, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. But what is actually happening is a mockery of such trials. Activists who had fought for more stringent punishment for rape cases are aghast at the manner in which the rape law is being implemented. Dr Ranjana Kumari, who heads the Centre for Social Research, believes these verdicts are nothing more than "a mockery with the courts playing to the political gallery. At this rate, we will soon hear of thousands of such verdicts from across the country. In the police registry, there are 4.5 lakh names of men accused of rape during the past decade. If this goes on, will the state take responsibility for killing so many (rapists) in future?" Or take the case of Irfan Mewati, 20, and Asif Mewati, 24, who were accused of
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September 29 IRAQ: 2 sentenced to die for 'terror attack' in Iraq's AnbarDefendants have 30 days to appeal death sentences before Iraq's Court of Cassation 2 Iraqis were sentenced to death on Monday after being convicted earlier of killing 12 civilians in Iraq's western Anbar province. According to Abdul-Sattar Bayrakdar, a spokesman for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, a criminal court sentenced the pair to death earlier for killing 12 civilians in Anbar's Al-Jazeera district in what the court described as a "terrorist attack". A 3rd person was slapped with life behind bars for taking part in a separate attack in Diyala province. The defendants now have 30 days in which to appeal the sentences before Iraq's Federal Court of Cassation. (source: Anadolu Agency) TAIWAN: Keir Starmer visits Taiwan to lobby against death penaltyLabour frontbencher, a long-time campaigner against capital punishment, will meet senior judiciary and politicians Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, flies out to Taiwan this weekend to lobby against the death penalty in an initiative also aimed at demonstrating the UK's continued commitment to international legal standards following the EU referendum. His four-day trip, which is supported by the Foreign Office, will include meetings with the country's vice-president, minister of justice and senior judiciary. There are more than 40 prisoners on death row in the republic. Starmer, who was formerly director of public prosecutions, has for many years been a director of the Death Penalty Project, which campaigns for abolition of capital punishment across the world. According to Amnesty International's latest estimates, 142 countries have stopped imposing capital punishment in law and practice out of more than 190 states globally. Asia remains one region where the death penalty is still widely used. Taiwan adopted a moratorium on using the death penalty but on 31 August 31 Lee Hung-chi, who was convicted of murdering his ex-wife and daughter, was shot through the heart from behind - the country's routine method for carrying out executions. Starmer, who visited Taiwan 2 years ago, told the Guardian: "The most important thing is to ensure that the moratorium stays in place. One of the most important points to emphasise after the referendum is the UK's continued commitment to international law ... across the world. "For me personally, and the country, compliance with international human rights obligations has always been central and I have devoted much of my career to that cause ... Going to Taiwan is part of maintaining the UK's commitment to international human rights." Saul Lehrfreund, a solicitor at the London law firm Simons Muirhead & Burton and co-founder of the Death Penalty Project, is accompanying Starmer to Taiwan. He said: "We will be raising the case of Lee. Taiwan has not said it will abolish the death penalty tomorrow but has stated that it's a long-term objective." Lehrfreund has also been to talk to authorities in China about the death penalty. Chinese executions have declined in number: 25 years ago as many 25,000 prisoners were being killed every year. The current figure is believed to be around 3,000 deaths. "The reality is that miscarriages of justice are inevitable anywhere in the world. An individual on death row in Taiwan was exonerated recently after spending 10 years on death row." The UK's commitment to opposing the death penalty has been questioned since the government signalled in July that it may allow two terror suspects, El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, who have been detained in Iraq to be extradited to the US where they could face the death penalty. The Foreign Office said: "It is a longstanding policy of the UK government to oppose the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle." The department said it worked closely, through the Magna Carta Fund, with abolitionist organisations such as the Death Penalty Project to reduce the number of executions and restrict use of the death penalty. Asked about the Isis suspects, the spokesperson said: "We are clear that any foreign fighters who may be captured in an armed conflict should be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law and brought to justice in accordance with legal due process." Starmer is due to return to the UK on Thursday after the end of the Conservative party conference. In an article he and Lehfreund have written for Taiwanese papers, they said: "The global experience shows that support for capital punishment dwindles after abolition as the punishment comes to be outdated. "There are many unanswered questions about Lee's death that make it sit so uncomfortably with a commitment towards abolition, including that his original sentence of life imprisonment was increased to death on appeal, the lingering and serious concerns as to
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September 28 VIETNAM: 3 drug traffickers arrested in northern Vietnam Police of Vietnam's northern Son La province said on Friday they detained 3 local men on Thursday when they were transporting 10 cakes of heroin. The trio included Hang A Giong, 38, Hang A Ho, 34, and Hang A Ly, 29, all from Son La's Muong La district. The provincial police were further investigating the case. According to the Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty. (source: xinhuanet.com) INDONESIA: Bengkalis court sentences 2 drug traffickers to death A group of activists ask President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to postpone the execution of death row inmate Merri Utami in a peaceful rally on Jl.Pahlawan in Semarang, Central Java, on Thursday. The President was also called on to grant the clemency request Merri had filed. The Bengkalis District Court in Riau sentenced 2 people to death on Wednesday after they were found guilty of violating the Narcotics Law by transporting 10 kilograms of powdered methamphetamine. According to court documents, the police arrested 38-year-old M. Hanafi of Batubara, North Sumatra, and Riko Fernando of Pekanbaru, Riau, after they were caught transporting pressed methamphetamine powder last December during a raid in Siak Kecil district, Bengkalis regency, Riau. Both Hanafi and Riko claimed that they were instructed by a Lampung Prison inmate to deliver the meth packages from Dumai, Riau, to Lampung for Rp 130 million (US$8,700). However, they had only received Rp 4 million as transport money. They said they had no idea where the packages of meth had come from as they were only ordered to pick up the packages from Dumai. The prosecutor from the Bengkalis District Attorney's Office demanded the defendants receive capital punishment as per the 2009 Narcotics Law. "They have worsened the drug trafficking problem in the country," presiding judge Sutarno said. Their lawyer, Farizal, said they were still considering whether to file an appeal for the sentence. In response, prosecutor Agrin Nico Reval said they would also consider the possibility of an appeal. "If the defendants decide to go forward with the appeal, we are ready to file one too," he said. (source: The Jakarta Post) IRAN: Kurdish member of Iran’s Guards sentenced to death on espionage charges A rights group on Thursday confirmed an Iranian Kurdish (Rojhilati) member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was handed a capital punishment sentence in August on charges of association with opposition groups to Tehran. Arsalan Khodkam, nearly forty days ago, was "sentenced to death by the Military Prosecutor Office's 23rd branch on charges of espionage and cooperation with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan [PDKI],' according to a report by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, an entity that logs human rights violations involving Kurds in Iran. The report explains that Khodkam, 50, was from the Kurdistan Province's city of Mahabad and was a Peshmerga in the PDKI in his youth. But, in the early nineties, he turned himself in and shortly after, joined the ranks of the IRGC. Mahabad security forces arrested him in March and have since held him in Urmia Central Prison. On Aug. 20, the Second Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia condemned Mohyeddin Ebrahimi to death on charges of membership in the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDP-I), another group that separated from the aforementioned one after internal disputes in 2006. In late-2017, Ebrahimi was shot at a checkpoint in Oshnavieh in Iran while working as a Kulbar - a Kurdish term for individuals who smuggle small amounts of goods between the Iran-Kurdistan Region border. The Islamic Regime is notorious for the number of executions per capita it carries out every year. Recent cases that garnered international attention were that of Ramin Hossein Panahi and 2 cousins, Loghman and Zanyar Moradi, who were executed on Sep. 8. In total, 6 Kurdish political prisoners were killed since then. On the same day at the executions, Iran carried out a cross-border missile attack on the headquarters of the KDP-I and PDKI in the Kurdistan Region's town of Koya, killing 15 people and injuring 42 others. (source: kurdistan24.net) *** 2 Political Prisoners Sentenced to Death The Revolutionary Court of Urmia city in Iran sentenced Mohiaddin Ebrahimi, a political prisoner, to death. Moreover, the Supreme Court accepted the death sentence of Arsalan Khodkam, another political prisoner at the same Urmia prison. According to a close source, Mohiaddin Ebrahimi was sentenced to death on the charge of "cooperation with Kurdish opposition parties" at Branch 2 of the
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September 27 GLOBAL: Top Vatican diplomat calls for universal abolition of death penalty Abolishing the death penalty worldwide would reflect the brave and hope-filled belief that crime can be dealt with without capital punishment and that a criminal should be given the chance to reform, a top Vatican diplomat told world leaders. "Respect for the dignity of every human person and the common good are the two pillars on which the Holy See has developed its position" of advocating for an end to the death penalty, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister, said Sept. 25 at the United Nations in New York, where he led the Vatican delegation at the 73rd session of the U.N. general assembly. The Vatican released a copy of his speech Sept. 26. Speaking at a high-level U.N. side event on the death penalty and the role of poverty and the right to legal representation, the archbishop said that the universal abolition would be a "courageous reaffirmation" that humanity can successfully deal with crime while also refusing "to succumb to despair before evil acts, offering the criminal a chance to reform." The archbishop cited Pope Francis' recent revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person" and the church "works with determination for its abolition worldwide." The catechism's paragraph on capital punishment, 2267, had been updated by St. John Paul II in 1997 to strengthen its skepticism about the need to use the death penalty in the modern world and, particularly, to affirm the importance of protecting all human life. The original text recognized "the right and duty of legitimate public authority to punish malefactors by means of penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crime, not excluding, in cases of extreme gravity, the death penalty." However, as Pope Francis recently highlighted, there have been steady improvements of the penal system, and countries have the capability to protect the public order and safety with means other than the death penalty. Additionally, the pope has warned against the possibility of judicial error and the misuse of capital punishment in totalitarian and dictatorial regimes as a way to suppress political opposition or to persecute religious and cultural minorities. According to the Death Penalty Information Center based in Washington, D.C., 56 countries still retain the death penalty for ordinary crimes. The remainder of countries have abolished it, either in law or practice. China, Iran and Saudi Arabia executed the most people in 2016, according to Amnesty International figures. Amnesty says that China carries out judicial killings in the thousands every year, reporting the country as "the world's top executioner." In 2016, the United States dropped out of the top 5 executioner countries for the 1st time since 2006. The U.S. put 20 people to death, which was the lowest number since 1991, according to Amnesty. (source: cruxnow.com) EGYPT: Egypt executed 32 people since military coup Egyptian authorities have executed 32 people since the army overthrew the first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. According to the New Khaleej, Egyptian authorities have executed 32 people in nine cases since the coup d’état while 64 people are awaiting the death penalty in 13 other cases. There is no precise count of the number of death sentences pending appeals in Egypt, however human rights organisations say they amount to hundreds. Since 2013, Egyptian courts have sentenced hundreds to death, with most of the sentences appealed, while few were carried out. While Cairo denies having political detainees in its prisons, human rights organisations have estimated the number of detainees to be tens of thousands. In September 2016, the Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said that the number of political detainees in Egypt has exceeded 60,000 individuals. (source: Middle East Monitor) IRANexecution Prisoner Hanged at the Northern City of Tonekabon's Prison A prisoner was executed at Nashtarud-Tonekabon Prison on murder charges this morning. According to a report by HRANA, on the morning of Tuesday, September 25, one prisoner was executed at Nashtarud-Tonekabon Prison. The prisoner, sentenced to death on murder charges, was identified as Majid Pili, 41. He was married and had a 9-year-old child. The prisoner was transferred to the solitary confinement a day before. The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so far. According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the 517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges. There is a lack of a classification of murder by degree in Iran which results in issuing a death
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September 26 GHANA: Don't abolish death penalty - Prof. Mike Oquaye Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye has kicked against calls for the scrapping of the death penalty in Ghana's statute books. The death penalty has been in Ghana's statute books since the application of the English common law in 1874, but in practice, no execution has been recorded since July 1993, when then-President Jerry John Rawlings ordered the execution of some 12 convicts via a firing squad. Human Rights groups, like Amnesty International for years, have been pushing for the expulsion of the death penalty from the country's statutes. The call heaped on following the sentencing of three persons by a Tamale High Court to death by hanging in July for murder. "It is rather unfortunate that Ghana, we are still handing down death penalties or death sentences to Ghanaians. I believe that this is something that we should put an end to," the Country Director of Amnesty International, Ghana Robert Akoto Marfo told Starr News' in July in a reaction to the Tamale High Court sentencing. Prof Oquaye however, argued Tuesday in Parliament after the approval of President Akufo-Addo's nominees to the Supreme Court, that death penalty is a fallback measure for the nation in punishing heinous and horrendous crimes thus, it must be maintained. "It is [a] very interesting matter when people talk about the right of the criminal. Supposed a psychopath sets out to go and kill people in the mosque on Friday, people in the church on Sunday, mows everybody down, [and] at the end of it, he says, I have got the right under the law not to be executed. It is ridiculous. He has got the right not to be executed, but he has the right to go and kill thousands of worshipers. So, the state must reserve for itself [the death penalty]. It's good that in Ghana we have not executed people for so long of the death penalty. "But, I believe the State of Ghana must have it [death penalty] in its pocket reserved so that where necessary, the most heinous of crimes can still be subject to such executions. These are parameters that some of the Human Rights advocates don't seriously exam and we must be very mindful of them in the future," he stated. (source: ghanaweb.com) Parliament approves nominees to Supreme Court Rev Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, the Speaker of Parliament of Tuesday indicated his personal support for the death penalty as the House approved by consensus, the nomination of 4 persons by President Nana Akufo-Addo as justices to the Supreme Court of Ghana. The approval followed the debate by Members on the Report of the Appointments Committee after the vetting of nominees-Prof Emmanuel Ashie Kotey, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Ghana; Nene Abayateye Ofoe Amegatcher, private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association; Justice Samuel Kofi Marful-Sau and Justice Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie, both judges of the Appeal Court of Ghana. The Speaker, in a comment, before the plenary responded with a resounding "aye" to approve the nominees, picked on the thorny issue of death penalty and indicated that the death penalty, although not used for a long time in Ghana should be maintained to serve as deterrent. The issue of the death penalty had come up during the vetting, and the Speaker wondered if it were right for a person to continue to enjoy life, on the grounds of human rights, if he or she takes that of others in a shooting spree. Rev Prof Oquaye cited an instance of a psychopath, who enters a mosque on a Friday or a church on Sunday and kills about a thousand people in each case and then he is allowed to go scot free on the grounds of human rights. He asked the proponents of human rights, who would not support death penalty for such a person, if that person has the right to take the lives of others. Rev Prof Oquaye registered his personal support for the death penalty to be maintained, as he put it "have it in our pocket to serve as deterrent to offenders." First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Appointments Committee Joseph Osei Owusu agreed with Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu that issues about the number of people to serve on the Supreme Court, whether to capped or increased should be directed to that office for interpretation. The appointment of the Justices to the Supreme Court followed the retirement of some long-serving justices. As at 2016, there were 14 Supreme Court judges, but at least 3 Supreme Court judges have retired or are expected to retire in a few years. (source: Ghana News Agency) EGYPT: Egypt Court upholds death sentences, long prison terms for 135 over Kerdasa police killings Egypt's Court of Cassation upheld the prison sentences and death penalty Monday handed to 135 people in the case of the deadly attack on a police station in the town of
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Septmeber 25 INDIA: Yug case: Hearing on death sentence put off The death sentence reference sent by the Sessions Judge, Shimla, for the confirmation of the death sentence awarded by him to the 3 accused in the Yug murder case was listed before the High Court on Monday. After hearing the matter for some time, the court adjourned the same for October 9. During the course of hearing, the counsel for the state sought time for assisting the court in this matter on the ground that the entire record pertaining to the case was not received by him to date. While allowing the prayer, a Division Bench comprising Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary and Justice Vivek Singh Thakur deferred the hearing for October 9. Section 366 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides that when a Sessions Court passes a death sentence, the proceedings must be submitted to the High Court and the sentence cannot be executed unless it is confirmed by the High Court. As per the provision, whenever such a case is submitted to the High Court, it may confirm the sentence or pass any other sentence warranted by law or annul the conviction. Virender Singh, Session Judge, Shimla, had awarded the death penalty to 3 persons on September 5 for kidnapping and murdering a 4-year-old boy for ransom. The District and Sessions Court had held Chander Sharma, Tajender Singh and Vikrant Bakshi guilty under Sections 302, 347 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code. Yug Gupta, son of businessman Vinod Gupta, was kidnapped and murdered in the Kelston area of Shimla 4 years ago. Yug's skeletal remains were found inside a water tank in the Kelston locality on August 22, 2016, leading to widespread protests across the town. Yug was kidnapped by the accused persons on June 14, 2014, from Ram Bazaar. After Yug went missing, a case of abduction under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code was registered on June 16, 2014, following which an investigation was initiated. (source: The Tribune) MALAYSIA: Man nabbed over Penang drug 'factory' charged with trafficking syabu A man was charged at the magistrate's court here today with trafficking syabu, 2 weeks ago. However, no plea was recorded from Lee Wooi Keong, 46, after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Dianne Ningrad Nor Azhar. Lee was charged with trafficking in 27.275gm of syabu at a factory in Bukit Tengah's Small and Medium Industries at 3pm on Sept 12. He was charged under Section 39B(1) (a) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 which carries mandatory death penalty upon conviction. Dianne Ningrad set Nov 23 for mention of the case. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Afiqah Zakaria prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented. It was reported that the Bukit Aman's anti-narcotics team busted a drug processing 'factory' in Bukit Tengah and seized numerous types of drugs worth RM72.5 million in the raid. The drug seizure was believed to be the biggest since 1996. At the 'factory', the police team seized 2.13 million Erimin 5 pills, 742.6 kg of Erimin 5 powder, 27.3kg syabu, 5,080 ecstasy pills and 53.7kg of liquid chemical. (source: nst.com.my) SINGAPOREexecution Indian-origin man executed in Singapore for drug trafficking A 29-year-old Indian-origin Malaysian man was executed on Friday in Singapore for drugs smuggling despite calls by the UN and rights groups to halt his capital punishment. Prabagaran Srivijayan was sentenced to death in 2014 after he was caught with 22.24 grams of diamorphine while trying to enter Singapore. Srivijayan had his death sentence carried out at Singapore's Changi Prison Complex, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). He was arrested in April 2012 at Woodlands Checkpoint in the main causeway to southern Peninsular Malaysia. 2 packets of the drug were recovered from the vehicle he was driving, the CNB said in a statement. Yesterday, Srivijayan's lawyer, Choo Zheng Xi, on instructions from Srivijayan's family, asked the Singapore apex court to stay his client's death sentence on the grounds that his appeal in Malaysia was pending. Judges of Appeal Chao Hick Tin, Andrew Phang and Tay Yong Kwang called the attempt to halt Srivijayan's execution because of proceedings in another country "an abuse of process". "The judiciary of each country is entitled to act in accordance with its Constitution and its laws," The Channel News Asia quoted Judge Chao as saying. "No judiciary of one country interferes in the judicial process of another country," he said. Srivijayan had a pending appeal before the Malaysian Court of Appeal to institute proceedings against Singapore in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Amnesty International had raised concerns about the fairness of the trial, including the alleged failure of the authorities "to follow up leads and call on key witnesses that would corroborate his version of events". The United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR) South East
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September 24 AUSTRALIA: Guilty Screening for World Day Against the Death PenaltyThe film recreates the last 72 hours of Myuran Sukumaran's life. On Wednesday October 10, the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty, Guilty, the film recreating the final 72 hours in the life of Bali 9 member Myuran Sukumaran, will screen in cinemas across Australia. Sukumaran, who grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney, was executed by firing squad in Indonesia in 2015 alongside fellow Australian Andrew Chan after both were convicted of drug trafficking - and despite international public outcry. In the lead up to his death, Sukumaran became an accomplished artist under the tutorship of Ben Quilty; the film mixes archival and dramatic material from the final 3 days of his life to capture his talent and the tragedy of his death. Reprieve Australia campaigns for an end to the death penalty and arranges volunteer legal and humanitarian assistance for some of the more than 20,000 people worldwide on deathrow. The organisation will receive 10 % of the ticket sales from Guilty screenings in cinemas in the ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. Watch the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fG9LsQRCv4. Melbourne screenings: Cinema Nova, Carlton - 7pm Village Cinemas Southland, Cheltenham - 7pm Village Cinemas Karingal, Frankston - 7pm Hoyts Cinema Melbourne Central, Melbourne CBD - 6.30pm (source: broadsheet.com.au) PHILIPPINES: Dela Rosa pushes death penalty for drug lords Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa reiterated his call for the return and expansion of the death penalty for people convicted of illegal drugs charges. In a visit to Baguio City to meet with students of the National Institute for Information Technology (NIIT) on the sustainable programs against illegal drugs and peace promotion, the corrections chief said it does not matter whether the guilty just possessed illegal drugs or managed a drug empire, they should go straight to their death beds. "Prior to my assignment as corrections chief, the apprehensions done against those involved in illegal drugs outside the corrections bureau were coming from inside the corrections facility, so what we did was to segregate 160 Chinese personalities from their Filipino counterpart to stop the transactions they were conducting," Dela Rosa said. In his stint as corrections chief, Dela Rosa noted the presence of marijuana transactions between the Chinese and Filipinos but still indicated shabu as the leading drug of choice. "Not so much on marijuana but more on shabu because of the return of investment between the 2 illegal drugs, most likely if there were transactions of marijuana, it may have likely came from the Cordillera region," the corrections chief stated. At present, a controversial House bill already approved on 3rd and final reading allows death penalty only for drug convicts of 7 particular offenses. When asked on what he would pursue once he reaches the senate, Dela Rosa said aside from the death penalty, he would look into returning the training of PNP personnel to the organization and the strict regulation on the acquisition of SIM cards. "I will also focus on a bill returning the training of police personnel to the PNP since this is very important for the discipline of our police force, aside from the use of post paid SIM cards instead of prepaid so that it would be easy to monitor criminal elements involved in illegal activities," Dela Rosa added. During his incumbency as PNP Chief, Dela Rosa was the face of the Duterte administration's anti-illegal drug campaign. (source: sunstar.com.ph) IRANexecutions 31 Executions Including 9 Political Prisoners Within 20 Days On Saturday, September 22, the falling regime of mullahs executed 9 prisoners collectively in Adelabad prison in Shiraz. The criminal head of the "Justice" of Fars province had already reiterated that he will deal seriously with those who disturb the order and security of the society. Thus, the number of executions in the past 20 days amounted to at least 31, most of them young individuals. 9 of them were Kurdish and Balouch political prisoners who were hanged in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, Zahedan and Orumieh for the fabricated charge of "Moharebeh" [waging war against God] and disturbing the security of the regime. In Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, 8 other prisoners were executed collectively on September 5. 1 prisoner was hanged publicly in Marvdasht. The hated system of the Velayat-e faqih, being engulfed with domestic and international crises, and incapable of confronting the growing popular protests, has resorted to a new wave of executions and oppression in a bid to escalate the atmosphere of terror and intimidation. The Iranian Resistance calls on all international human rights
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September 23 BANGLADESH: Bangladesh considers capital punishment for driving deaths The cabinet on Monday will consider for traffic accident deaths, a official said, as thousands of students held for a 9th day over the deaths of 2 teenagers by a speeding bus. Tens of thousands of angry school and colleges students have been demanding changes to Bangladesh's transport laws, paralysing the crowded capital of 18 million, after the 2 teenagers were killed when a privately operated bus ran over a group of students on July 29. "In this amendment it has been proposed to award the highest level of punishment if it is killing by an accident," said the law ministry official, who has been briefed on the matter but declined to be named ahead of a decision. The current punishment is a maximum jail term of 3 years. Using the death penalty for road accidents is rare anywhere in the world. Bangladesh's transport authority listed punishments given in different countries that ranged from 14 years in the UK in extreme cases to 2 years in India. Sheikh Shafi, a student of a polytechnic institute in Dhaka who lost his brother in a road accident in 2015, said one of the problems was that bus drivers are not paid fixed monthly salaries instead only earn commissions based on the number of passengers, forcing them to work long hours. "Our demand is that the owners must appoint them and they will work a maximum of 10 hours. The commission based system must be eliminated," said Shafi, who was injured while protesting on Saturday. Amid the ongoing protests, an official vehicle carrying the US ambassador to Bangladesh was attacked by a group of armed men on Sunday, some on motorcycles, the embassy said in a statement. There were no injuries but 2 vehicles were damaged. The embassy has condemned the "brutal attacks and violence" against the students protesters by security forces, a charge the government denies. Police said they did not have an immediate explanation as to why the US ambassador came under attack. (source: glenwoodguardian.com) IRANexecutions 9 Prisoners Hanged at Shiraz Prison 9 prisoners were hanged at Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz on the charge of rape. According to the state-run news agency, Mizan, on the morning of Saturday, September 22, 9 prisoners were executed at Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz. The prisoners were sentenced to death on the charge of rape. There is no information regarding the time of their arrest or the proceedings of their case, but according to the state-run media, the defendants were identified as Abdolkhaleq Safaiy, Ali Akbar Haqiqi, Ali Shah Alian, Hamidreza Safaiy, Behnam Roustaiy, Ehsan Safaiy, Mohammadreza Safaiy, Davoud Zareiy, and Mehdi Zamani. According to the reports, the defendants sexually harass a woman in a villa, however, the reports mentioned that 3 women were harassed but the other 2 did not file a complaint. A Brief Look at an Executed Political Prisoner's Case Mohammad Abdollahi, a political prisoner, was hanged along with four other people at Urmia Central Prison in August 2016. After 3 years, Iran Human Rights has obtained some pieces of evidence indicating multiple violations in the judicial proceedings of his case. We interviewed one of Mohammad Abdollahi's relatives under the pseudonym Ali. It should be noted that the burial place of the defendant has not been announced to his family yet. Mohammad Abdollahi was shot and arrested by the Revolutionary Guards in Mahabad in March 2010. One of his relatives, aka Ali, told IHR, "We went to Almahdi Detention Center several times but they told us that Mohammad was not there and threatened us not to look for him." He added, "The Revolutionary Guards beat him badly while he was already injured and bleeding. His right hand, left leg, and three of his teeth broke under torture. Mohammad was interrogated and tortured in the solitary confinement for three months until he had internal bleeding and was transferred to Mahabad Prison." Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that Mohammad Abdollahi had entered Iran along with some members of Komalah and was involved in an armed conflict that led to the murder of 3 police officers. However, Ali says, "Mohammad never admitted to involvement in the armed conflict, possession of any weapons, and cooperation with Komalah, the only thing they found on him was a membership card of Komalah. Nonetheless, he was sentenced to death on the charge of "Moharebeh and membership of Komalah" in September 2013." He added, "His lawyers believed that he would be saved from death. He didn't even make a false confession under torture. But Judge Javadi Kia told him that he would do everything in his power to have him executed." Mohammad Abdollahi was finally transferred to Urmia Central Prison after his verdict was issued in April 2014. He
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September 22 BARBADOS: Barbados death penalty chucked Barbadian legislators are reluctantly pushing aside a law directing the death penalty for murder, only because the island’s lawmakers know that they are compelled to obey a Caribbean Court of Justice ruling making executions illegal. In one of his last judgements retiring CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron, delivered in June, the court ruled out the mandatory death sentences on persons convicted of murder in Barbados because such a practice is unconstitutional. This ruling forced the new government of Prime Minister Mia Mottley to dust off and bring to parliament a 2014 bill amending the Offences Against the Person Act that shelves the aspect that the CCJ deemed unconstitutional but does not erase the death penalty from the statute books. It was passed through the lower chamber of that law-making body, House of Assembly, this week. After consideration in the Senate it is expected to be proclaimed into law. "Today Barbados has a death penalty and when this bill is passed in the House and passed in the Senate of Barbados and proclaimed to be the law of Barbados, the country of Barbados will still have a death penalty," said Attorney General Dale Marshall as he indicated that government is not abolishing the death penalty but shoving the stipulation aside where it remains an option. In fact, the bill to amend the act reads in part, "a person who is convicted of murder shall be sentenced to death; or imprisonment for life." This grudging shelving of the death penalty by these legislators, many who profess to support capital punishment, is being done only because the CCJ is the island's court of last resort and its ruling is law of the land. "If we choose to disobey the ruling of the CCJ on this point, what else will we choose to disobey the ruling of the CCJ on?" asked Marshall, whose government had reaffirmed in no uncertain manner its commitment to the CCJ immediately after it came to power, following former prime minister Freundel Stuart's vow to take the island out of this Caribbean court if his party had won the elections. Barbados was not bound by the June CCJ ruling alone, but had years earlier given a commitment to that Caribbean court and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that it would rectify the mandatory death sentence. This is the reason that the amendment bill to the Offences to the Person Act dates back to 2014, as the previous government had drafted it but possessed no will to go against popular sentiment on the island and legally curtail hanging. The shelving of the mandatory death sentences in Barbados has an impact of many persons ranging from those already convicted of murders and sentenced to death, to individuals awaiting sentencing, and individuals awaiting trial for causing death of another. "As at today, there are 62 Barbadian men and women who are awaiting trial for murder. There are 6 awaiting trial for manslaughter. There are 11 people on death row," said Marshall in parliament Tuesday. "So as we speak today we have 79 people whom this statute could possibly affect." He explained that the 11 death row inmates will have to be resentenced in-keeping with the soon to be proclaimed amended law. The attorney general echoed sentiments of a pro-hanging conservative Caribbean when he regrettably mused on the island's future court guidelines on sentencing murderers. "It must be a frightening prospect for us sir, that we have 62 people who are charged with murder but on the law as it stands, we would likely not be able to inflict capital punishment on them," he said. (source: caribbeanlifenews.com) SINGAPOREfemale sentenced to death Singaporean woman sentenced to death for drug trafficking A 40-year-old Singaporean woman who claimed she was stocking up on heroin for her own use during the fasting month has failed in her bid to escape the death penalty. Saridewi Djamani, who was charged with trafficking a total of 1kg of drugs containing 30.72g of pure heroin, also claimed she was suffering from persistent depressive disorder and severe substance use disorder. In his grounds of decision released on Thursday (20 September), for his sentence delivered last Friday (14 September), High Court judge See Kee Oon noted that Saridewi did not deny selling heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis and Erimin from her HDB flat but sought to downplay the scale of her trafficking business. The High Court had heard how on 17 June 2016, at about 3.35pm, Saridewi's accomplice Muhammad Haikal Abdullah, 41, met her at the block of her flat. He passed her a plastic bag containing drugs in exchange for 2 envelopes containing $15,550 in total. Unbeknownst to the duo, officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) were monitoring them. Haikal, a Malaysian, was intercepted at a traffic junction on his motorcycle shortly after he left the block.
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Sept. 21 SAUDI ARABIA: Rights groups fear peaceful activism could now cost Saudi women their lives Human rights groups are concerned that Saudi Arabia has set a new legal precedent that could see women executed for peaceful activism. In an apparent first, Saudi prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a female activist charged with non-violent offenses. "Saudi Arabia has always had, sort of, red lines. There were certain things that they just didn't do," said Rothna Begum, a senior women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. The fact that authorities are now seeking the death penalty in Israa al-Ghomgham's case suggests they "may want to do something very similar to the (other) women's rights activists," Begum said. Women have been executed before in Saudi Arabia, which has one of the highest rates of execution in the world, notes Rachel Vogelstein, director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank. "The fact of execution in and of itself -- that's clearly not what is unique about this," Vogelstein told CBS News. "It is connecting the severity of this punishment to women's activism." Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East director of campaigns, said in a statement last month that sentencing activist al-Ghomgham to death "would send a horrifying message that other activists could be targeted in the same way for their peaceful protest and human rights activism." "The charges against Israa al-Ghomgam, which mostly relate to her peaceful participation in protests, are absurd and clearly politically motivated to silence dissent in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia," she said. Al-Ghomgham is well known for both taking part in -- and documenting -- demonstrations in the province that started in early 2011, the year Arab Spring uprisings swept the region, says Human Rights Watch. Amnesty, citing court documents, says the charges against her are: Violating Royal Decree 44/A for "participating in protests in al-Qatif and documenting these protests on social media" "Providing moral support to rioters by participating in funerals of protesters killed during clashes with security forces" "Violating Article 6 of the Anti-Cyber Crime law" by, among other things, posting videos and photos of protests on Facebook as well as advocating for protests "Committing forgery by using the passport photo of another woman on her Facebook account" Al-Ghomgham is facing the charges after several years during which the women's rights movement in Saudi Arabia has picked up steam. In wake of the Arab Spring protests, the field of activism, which had been dominated by men, started to see more female participants. The government's response to the evolving role of women activists was initially limited. "Before, (if a woman got in trouble with authorities for any sort of activism) they were only investigating or asking (the woman) to not do that activity again," Saudi activist Ali Adubisi told CBS News. Adubisi, who now lives in Germany, gave an example of a time in 2011 when he and his wife were taken into custody in Saudi Arabia. She was quickly released, while he was placed under arrest. Adubisi said this wouldn't be the case today. "Now the government wants to stop and shut down all the women's activity in Saudi Arabia," he said. "They want to send a strong message to women by arresting them for a long time and by giving them very harsh charges." Just weeks before Saudi Arabia lifted the world's only ban on women driving in June, the government launched what HRW has called an "unprecedented" crackdown on the women's rights movement. More than a dozen women's rights activists were arrested and several were accused of "grave crimes" that appear to be linked to their activism, the organization said. The crackdown has come as women in the country have gained some freedoms. In addition to the repeal of the female driving ban, women can now apply to serve in the military and attend sports events at public stadiums. "We're seeing these changes, they're significant changes, and yet the message the government is sending is that further reform and activism will be met with severe crackdowns," said Vogelstein at the Council on Foreign Relations. In addition to al-Ghomgham, 4 other Eastern Province activists are facing a possible death sentence, says Human Rights Watch. They are being tried in a counter-terror court. October 28 is their next scheduled court date. They are "facing the most appalling possible punishment simply for their involvement in anti-government protests," said Amnesty's Hadid. "We are urging the Saudi Arabian authorities to drop these plans immediately." (source: CBS News) MALAYSIA: Malaysian death sentences commuted for 3 Mexican brothers The deaths sentences against 3 Mexican brothers convicted of drug trafficking in Malaysia have been
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September 20 BARBADOS: Death penalty 'still on the book' Hang on, says Attorney General Dale Marshall, the death penalty will not be abolished in Barbados just yet. "I can say to you, Mr Speaker, and all of Barbados, that today Barbados has a death penalty and when this bill is passed in the House and passed in the Senate of Barbados and proclaimed to be the law of Barbados, the country of Barbados will still have a death penalty," he said. His comments came during wrap-up of debate of the Offences Against The Person (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which was passed in the House of Assembly on Tuesday evening. This was among a suite of bills amended to fall in line with the Caribbean Court of Justice's (CCJ) June ruling which stated that the mandatory death penalty for murder was in breach of the Constitution. Stressing that he supported capital punishment in "appropriate" cases, Marshall vowed that if the day came for the Mia Mottley-led Administration to consider abolishing the death penalty, they would first have a referendum to ascertain the public's views. "We've said that on every issue which Barbadians feel connected to, which is part of our legal, cultural, social and economic landscape, we will not even begin to think about changing any law unless we have consulted with the people. If we were going to say that the death penalty will be abolished, we would have gone to the people . . . . "We did it in 1995 in relation to gambling . . . so we have done it. It is part of how we do things on this side of Government. We've had a commission on law and order to engage the public and see what their views are, but this is a very different thing. This is a case where the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled that our mandatory death penalty is unconstitutional and it therefore falls on the shoulders of this administration to fix it," he added. The CCJ ruling is expected to affect 79 people. There are 11 people on death row, 62 awaiting trial for murder, and 6 awaiting trial for manslaughter. As a result, Marshall said the 11 would be re-sentenced and a hold had been placed on adjudication of the other matters. "It must be a frightening prospect for us that we have 62 people who are charged with murder but that on the law as it stands, we would likely not be able to inflict capital punishment on them. I don't want to get too deeply into whether capital punishment is right or wrong. I've always supported capital punishment, but my view on it is not every case that requires the ultimate of sanction that your life should be taken . . . . "The problem with when you choose not to obey the rule of law is that it is like a wild horse and no one knows where it will go. So if we choose to disobey the ruling of the CCJ on this point, what else will we choose to disobey the ruling of the CCJ on?" Marshall asked. (source: nationnews.com) BANGLADESH: 5 sentenced to death over double murder A court here on Wednesday sentenced 5 people to death for their involvement in killing a father and his son near Barishur Bazar area in Keraniganj, Dhaka in 1993, reports UNB. The convicted are Shafiqul Islam, Nazrul Islam alias Nazu, Mister alias Dela Mister, Arif and Masud. Judge Bazlur Rahman of the Dhaka district and Sessions' judge court handed down the verdict after hearing on the review petition. According to the prosecution, the convicts stabbed the grocery shop owner Sharif and his 2 sons on 13 June 1993, leaving them severely injured. Later, Sharif and one of his sons Khokon died while undergoing treatment at Mitford Hospital. Investigation officer of the case Mahmudul Hasan Kabir submitted a charge-sheet accusing the 5 in 1994. On 21 July 2004, a court sentenced the 5 accused to death over the killing. On Wednesday, after 25 years of trial proceedings, the court delivered the death- penalty and fined TK 40,000 each. (source: prothomalo.com) MALAYSIA: Cabinet discusses case of a man sentenced to death for having medicinal cannabis he Cabinet today discussed the case of a man who had been sentenced to death for having medicinal cannabis oil, said Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. However, no decision has been made on the matter, he said. "Just wait for further announcement (if any)," he replied when asked by reporters on the matter after his ministry's post-cabinet meeting at the Health Ministry here today. Muhammad Lukman Mohamad, a 29-year-old father of 1, was arrested in Dec 2015 for possession of 3.1 litres of cannabis oil, 279 grams of compressed cannabis, 1.4kg of substance containing tetrahydrocan nabinol (THC). He was nabbed by the police along with his 5-month pregnant wife, who was freed later, during a raid at his home. He was handed a death sentence by the Shah Alam High Court on Aug 30. On September 9, his lawyer was reported as saying that Muhammad Lukman only wanted to assist patients who are
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September 19 BARBADOS: "Introduce lethal injection', physician MP urges A Government backbencher, a medical doctor, is urging her fellow lawmakers to introduce lethal injection as a method of execution and abolish hanging. St Philip North MP Dr Sonia Browne told the House of Assembly this afternoon that hanging is antiquated and could also result in the condemned person's suffering. The measure was one of a series of suggestions on the fate of prison convicts that the 1st-time MP made in debate on the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2018, which the House later passed to abolish the mandatory death sentence. Dr Browne echoed the position of other legislators in the debate who insist that the death penalty itself must remain on the statute books for heinous murders. "The death penalty evokes emotions, anger, sadness, everything. Religion comes into it, upbringing comes into it . . . . The argument is not about the death penalty. But what I would say, is that we need to come out of the hanging thing. Hanging is antiquated and I see something there about suffering," said Dr Browne, who is Chairman of Committees, adding that she once had a problem with the death penalty until she got to realize the nature of some of the homicides being committed. It was at this point that she suggested an alternative system of inflicting capital punishment. "There has to be a way . . . I believe something more progressive like the lethal injection where there is not one man to pull a lever and have to live with killing somebody for the rest of their lives, where there are a lot of automatic things. "I think that needs to come here. And it needs to come here and not get cobwebs. Too many people killing people and know . . . willfully . . . that they will sit in prison and enjoy the rest of their days," said the MP for St Philip North. She also made the case for the introduction of parole, expressing concern that about two years ago a number of people were in prison for murder but "got let out and went and killed again. This is where the parole comes in, this is where the punishment that fits the crime comes in". Without elaborating on the parole proposal, Dr Browne also spoke briefly on the issue of bail. "Apart from murder offences, we have to look at letting out people on bail who have committed these issues, these offences. I don't think that people should be given bail and hence the process needs to be fast. Because in the cases of innocence you don???t want to keep somebody there for 7 years before a case comes up," she added. The conduct of the law courts and prisons did not escape her attention. Dr Browne told Parliament neither of these institutions must appear to be prejudicial. "The rich, the poor, White, Black, Indian, everybody should suffer the same fate if they do a crime they do the time or whatever punishment is meted out," the bankbencher declared. She continued: "I think the Barbadians are being disappointed and disillusioned and think that only the poor Black people can suffer prison terms and be punished in this way." She suggested that the rich and white appear to be getting off. She also argued that prison should be a place where going back should never enter a person's mind. "Now that is not the case. I have met people that told me straight . . . ready to go to a fight . . . 'Doc, I don't mind, prison not made for animals. Doc, I don't mind, I got friends in there.' It has to be a place where when you go in, the punishment meted out to you, you have no idea or thought or even dream about going back to prison, and right now I cannot say for a fact that is the case," the St Philip North MP told the Lower Chamber. She contended that inmates at Her Majesty's Prison Dodds were now playing cards and dominoes rather than being put to work on the lands around the prison to grow food. "They have an expansive land area around Dodds Prison. In my mind the prison should be self-sufficient at least in food. There is too much land around Dodds that the prisoners cannot do agriculture. They used to it along the highway years ago. We have the debushing programme that the Government is trying its best to find money for . . . and there are prisoners up there playing cards and dominoes. Use them," Dr Browne said, adding that this should be part of their punishment. AG: Convicted killers to be resentenced All 11 convicted killers on death row at Her Majesty's Prison at Dodds, St Philip will have to be resentenced the Attorney General Dale Marshall has told Parliament. But Marshall also disclosed "the frightening prospect" that scores of other Barbadians, now facing trial for murder may never be sentenced to die once convicted. The revelation came during debate on the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2018, which the House of Assembly passed to abolish the mandatory
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September 18 INDIA: SC Stays Execution of Death Penalty to Convict in Rape & Murder of a 4-Year-Old Girl Supreme Court has stayed the execution of death sentence of a convict in rape and murder of a 4-year-old, according to an ANI report. Madhya Pradesh High Court's Jabalpur bench in its judgement had sentenced the convict to death. Earlier last month, Madhya Pradesh High Court had upheld a lower Court's order awarding death sentence to a man for raping and killing a 4-year-old girl, observing that "humanity is more in danger in the hands of persons like the convict". According to the PTI report, the offence was described as an act of extreme depravity, and this was done taking note of the fact the rising crimes against minor girls. The Court further highlighted that such punishment could deter other criminals. A division bench of Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla as quoted in the report said, "The extreme judgment conveys a message to these predators that it is not a soft state where criminals committing such serious crimes may get a reprieve in the guise of humanity." (source: latestly.com) YEMEN: 24 Baha'i people, including a child, facing possible death penalty Responding to news that 24 Yemenis from the Baha'i faith - including 8 women and a child - are facing charges that could result in death sentences by the Huthi-controlled Specialized Criminal Court in Sana'a, Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Middle East Director of Research, said: "Once again, we are seeing trumped up charges and flagrantly unfair proceedings used to persecute Yemeni Baha'is for their faith. And it is particularly abhorrent that some of these men and women could face the death penalty for their conscientiously held beliefs and peaceful activities. "The group, which includes a teenage girl, were charged with various serious offences including espionage for foreign states, some of which can carry the death penalty. The Huthi authorities should drop these bogus charges, release those who are arbitrarily detained and end their abuse of the justice system to punish freedom of belief and persecute political critics, journalists, activists, Baha'is and other minorities." Background Since 2015, Amnesty International has documented a number of incidents in which members of the Baha'i community in Yemen were detained by the Huthi authorities. At the moment, 6 Baha'is are detained by the Huthis in Yemen, including some who have been subjected to enforced disappearances, torture and incommunicado detention. In January 2018, the Huthi authorities sentenced 52-year-old prisoner of conscience Hamid Haydara to death for allegedly collaborating with Israel and forging official documents. This sentence came after Hamid Haydara had been detained since December 2013, and was the result of a fundamentally flawed process, including trumped up charges, an unfair trial and credible allegations that he was tortured and ill-treated in custody. (source: Amnesty International) MALAYSIA: Malaysian PM Mahathir urges review of death penalty for man who sold medicinal cannabis Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday (Sep 18) came to the defence of a man facing the death penalty for selling cannabis oil to patients, saying his sentence should be reviewed. Muhammad Lukman Mohamad, a 29-year-old father of 1, was convicted of trafficking in cannabis, a crime punishable by death in Malaysia. He was sentenced to death by hanging on Aug 30 and has filed an appeal, his lawyer Farhan Maaruf told Reuters. During the trial, Muhammad Lukman testified that he had only sold cannabis oil to help patients suffering from illnesses such as cancer and leukemia, Farhan said. The case sparked a debate over the use of marijuana for medical purposes, with many, including some lawmakers, calling for amendments to the country's harsh drug laws. A Change.org petition, which urged the attorney-general to free Muhammad Lukman, has garnered nearly 45,000 signatures. Asked about the case, Mahathir told reporters it should be reviewed. "No, I think we should review that," he was quoted as saying in a video recording of his comments seen by Reuters. Nurul Izzah Anwar, a member of parliament from Mahathir's coalition, said she would be writing a letter calling for the attorney-general to reconsider the conviction and penalty for Muhammad Lukman. "From the reports, it looks to be a miscarriage of justice," she said. The attorney-general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comments. Malaysia, like other countries in Southeast Asia, imposes harsh penalties for drug offences. Last year, parliament voted to remove the death penalty as mandatory punishment for drug trafficking and leave it to the judges' discretion instead. Earlier this year, an Australian mother of 3 was sentenced to death for trafficking more
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September 17 INDONESIA: Death penalty demanded for West Jakarta drug dealer Prosecutors in West Jakarta District Court have demanded the death penalty for drug-dealing suspect Samsul Anwar, 32. "The demand was the death penalty," West Jakarta District Court intelligence division head Edy Subhan confirmed on Monday, as reported by tempo.co. He said the demand was read out in the court last Wednesday, when prosecutors accused Samsul of selling 13 kilograms of liquid meth at the MG International Club in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta. Samsul's case began when the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and police raided the club on Dec. 17 last year where they arrested 5 suspects namely Wastam, 43, Ferdiansyah, 23, Dedi Wahyudi, 40, Mislah, 45, and Fadly, 40, as well as Samsul - the suspected coordinator of the group. The club's owner Agung Ashari, alias Rudi, is still on the run. Authorities also seized several unlabeled, empty 330ml water bottles, suspected of being drug containers and found 3 rooms on the 4th floor believed to be used for drug production. Each bottle was sold for around Rp 400,000 (US$27). The suspects were charged under Article 114(2) and Article 112(2) of Law No. 35/2009 Law on narcotics, which carries the maximum penalty of death. (source: The Jakarta Post) SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Court Sentences 7 Men For Shooting Officer 30 Times In Police Car The Specialized Criminal Court on Sunday issued a preliminary sentence against 7 Saudis following the killing of a police officer. One of the Saudis was found guilty of shooting the officer in his car 30 times, while the rest did not report him and misled investigators. The shooting was in response to Daesh instructions to target military personnel, pledge allegiance to its leader and adopt its extremist ideology. The court ruled that the shooter should face the death penalty and then be crucified. The other 6 Saudis were given prison sentences. (source: albawaba.com) MALAYSIA: Nurul Izzah to appeal to AG to pardon medical marijuana distributor on death row Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar will be writing an appeal to Attorney General Tommy Thomas seeking a pardon for Muhammad Lukman, who was recently sentenced to death for possessing, processing and distributing medical marijuana (cannabis oil). "Yes, we are following up. Personally speaking, I am writing an appeal to the AG - first and foremost to secure a pardon based on the merits of his case and predicament. "And secondly, to eventually decriminalise the use of cannabis oil for medical reasons," she told The Star Online on Monday (Sept 17). Nurul Izzah labelled Lukman's death sentence, which was meted down to him earlier this month, as a miscarriage of justice. Lukman, a 29-year-old father of one, was arrested in Dec 2015 for the possession of 3.1 litres of cannabis oil, 279 grams of compressed cannabis, 1.4kg of substance containing tetrahydrocan nabinol (THC). He was nabbed by the police along with his 5-month pregnant wife, who was freed later, during a raid at his home. He was handed a death sentence by the Shah Alam High Court on Aug 30. Meanwhile, a petition calling for the release of Lukman is now making rounds in social media with 41,137 signatures as of Monday. The petition was started after a column by the Star news editor Martin Vengadesan on Sept 9 highlighted Lukman's case. "For those who were never exposed to the cannabis world, we treat it as a taboo topic. "While at the same time, cannabis is becoming increasingly accepted in many countries as a plant with various benefits, particularly the treatment of various chronic diseases," wrote the authors of the petition. "It's time for us to review the definition of what distinguishes an individual, a distributor, an addict, or a genuine patient that needs cannabis for treatment." On Sept 9, his lawyer Farhan Maaruf told The Star that Lukman only wanted to assist patients who are suffering from ailments that can be treated by THC, an active ingredient in cannabis. Lukman had no intention whatsoever to distribute or "push" cannabis on the streets, his lawyer Farhan said. Lukman's case is not the only one of its kind as Amiruddin @ Nadarajan Abdullah, who is known as Dr Ganja, is facing 36 charges and the death sentence for similar offences. His advocates claim he has helped treat more than 800 people. Under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, individuals caught possessing 200 grams or more of cannabis, will be charged under drug trafficking, which carries the death penalty. However, in many developed countries, the trend is to decriminalise and even legalise marijuana, particularly for medical purposes. Apart from the Netherlands, on October 17, 2018, Canada will legalise recreational marijuana in full. In Argentina, the government has been providing medical marijuana since March 2017 while it has
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September 16 IRANexecution Execution of a Prisoner on Drug-Related Charges 1 prisoner was executed at Zahedan Central Prison on the charge of "trafficking, possessing, and selling drugs and carrying out the armed action." According to a close source, on the morning of Saturday, September 15, 1 prisoner was executed at Zahedan Central Prison on the charge of "trafficking, possessing, and selling drugs and carrying out armed action". The prisoner, who was transferred to the solitary confinement on Wednesday, September 12, was identified as Aref Rigi, 31. Habibollah Sarbazi, the Baluch civil activist, told IHR, "Aref Rigi denied armed action all the stages of the proceedings." According to a report by the Baluch Activists Campaign, Aref Rigi had been in prison for 6 years. The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so far. This is the 4th drug-related execution that has been reported by the statistical department of IHR since the enforcement of the new drug law on November 14, 2017. The new drug law includes a mechanism that leads to a decrease in the number of death sentences and reduces the sentence of the death-row prisoners and those sentenced to life imprisonment. (source: Iran Human Rights) INDIA: 7 months, 12 death sentences in Madhya Pradesh: Here is what a trial under its new rape law for minors entailsRajkumar was given death in 5 days, the shortest trial in Madhya Pradesh which has seen 12 death sentences in rape cases in 7 months. In the state that set the new rape law for under-12 girls in motion, MILIND GHATWAI on what such a trial entails, and doesn't. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said those who rape minor girls were "not humans", but "pishaach (devils)" and "didn't have the right to live". LOG samjhaate rahe nabbe din tak kuchch nahin hoga (People kept reassuring us nothing would happen for 90 days)," says Radhabai Kol, 62. Ninety days is the usual deadline for police to file a chargesheet. Radhabai's son Rajkumar, 33, was sentenced to death in 5 - the fastest trial in the 12 death sentences handed out by Madhya Pradesh (MP) courts since February this year in the cases of rape of minors. In December 2017, MP became the 1st state in the country to pass a Bill providing for the rapists of girls aged 12 or below to be hanged till death. The minimum punishment, the Bill stated, would be a 14-year rigorous imprisonment or life term till death. This would go up to 20 years rigorous imprisonment in cases of gang rape of girls aged 12 or less. The government passed the Bill after the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report showed that MP witnessed the highest number of rape cases in the country in 2016. Speaking on the Bill, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said those who rape minor girls were "not humans", but "pishaach (devils)" and "didn't have the right to live". After MP, Haryana, Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh passed similar legislation, while J and Delhi resolved to do so. Even as MP's Bill was pending with the President, in April this year, the Centre issued an ordinance providing death for the rape of minors, including many provisions of MP???s legislation. In July, the Lok Sabha passed the Bill, which also puts a 2-month deadline on the trial of rape cases, a 6-month time limit for disposal of appeals, and says there will be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gang rape of a girl under 16 years. An autorickshaw driver, Rajkumar was accused of taking a 4-year-old girl he drove to school to a secluded spot on July 4, kissing her and penetrating her with his finger. The complaint was lodged on July 6, after the girl's aunt told police she complained of pain while relieving herself. The aunt said the girl accused the "auto wale bhaiyya" of slapping her and threatening to beat her up if she told anyone. Rajkumar was sentenced on July 27. In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited the "5-day" Katni trial as a case that should be "publicised" so that "people with demonic mentality get scared". The Kotwali Police Station, overseeing a population of about 2.5 lakh, is located in a single-storey building near the town's main square. Of its sanctioned posts of nearly 170, including sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, around 40 are vacant. The Investigating Officer in the Rajkumar rape case, SHO Shailesh Mishra, 53, is not sure of the number of cases he is handling. A wall outside his cabin has pictorial messages on 'good touch' and 'bad touch' for children. The girl's aunt visited the police station late in the night of July 6, he recalls. The FIR was registered at 11.35 pm. Sub-Inspector Manju Sharma, who recorded the minor???s statement, says she got the girl to open up through small talk. ???I said, 'Let's go relieve ourselves???, but she said it hurts. Later
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September 15 INDIA: Man gets death penalty for Ludhiana double murderHad stabbed cousin, her mother in 2013; tried to mislead cops Additional Sessions Judge Arunvir Vashishta has awarded death penalty to local resident Rishu Grover (25) for the murder of 2 relatives. He had stabbed to death his cousin sister, Henna (21), and her mother, Usha Grover (55), on the intervening night of May 21 and 22, 2013. The court held that the prosecution had proved the guilt of the accused beyond doubt. "He does not deserve a lenient attitude," the court observed while declining Rishu's plea for leniency. According to the prosecution, the accused had tried to mislead the police by writing the name of one 'Babu' on the wall with Henna's blood. The cops had initially rounded up a plumber, Babu Ram. 3 days later, the then ADCP Neelambri Jagdale had cracked the case after zeroing in on Rishu. Rishu and Heena had reportedly been in a relationship. Her engagement to someone else upset him. The debt-ridden accused came to know that Heena's brother Rahul Grover had sent her money from Australia. Keen to repay his debts and avenge his "humiliation", he murdered the woman-daughter duo before decamping with cash and jewellery. The prosecution claimed that 100 Australian dollars, Rs 2.11 lakh in Indian currency, 2 surgical gloves and a blood-stained knife were recovered from the accused. Denying illicit relations with the girl, Rishu had blamed Babu for the murder. After considering the evidence of 26 prosecution witnesses, besides being convinced by the submissions of victim family's lawyer Raman Kaushal, the court found him guilty and awarded death penalty. Did it to take revenge Rishu Grover and Heena had reportedly been in a relationship. Her engagement to someone else upset him. The debt-ridden accused came to know that Heena's brother Rahul Grover had sent her money from Australia. Keen to avenge his "humiliation" and repay his debts, he murdered the woman-daughter duo before decamping with cash and jewellery. (source: tribuneindia.com) SOUTH KOREA: Death penalty sought for man accused of killing 2 ex-girlfriends Prosecutors on Friday sought a death sentence for a 30-year-old man accused of killing 2 of his former girlfriends. According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the defendant surnamed Choi allegedly murdered the 2 women on separate occasions in July and December of last year. Choi had reportedly planned the murders and made purchases of the weapons beforehand. He also sent text messages to the victims' families to pretend the women were alive in order to avoid getting caught, according to the prosecution. During the course of the investigation, authorities said another former girlfriend of Choi's had died after reportedly suffering from an illness, but they could not find any incriminating evidence related to her death. The prosecution demanded a death penalty for Choi, citing his lack of remorse over the deceased victims. During court proceedings, the only words out of Choi's mouth was reported to have been "I am sorry. I have no excuse for my actions." The court will make its verdict on the defendant on Oct. 5. (source: The Korea Herald) ___ 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
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September 14 NIGERIA: Court slams death penalty on armed robber in Ondo Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital on Thursday sentenced one James Ofem, an armed robbery culprit, to death by hanging. Ofem was part of the notorious robbery gang terrorizing residents and mostly motorists on the Ondo/ Ore road and had been the security watch list for a long time. Presiding Judge, Justice Williams Olamide, who delivered the judgement said that Ofem, the convict, was guilty of the 2 count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery made against him. He said that the witnesses brought to court to testify on the case made allusion to use of arms in the armed robbery attacks executed by Ofem. According to Justice Olamide, the prosecution had proven the robbery case beyond reasonable doubt with lot evidences that the accused was indeed guilty of the crime. Wale Bamisile, the Prosecutor from Department of Public Prosecution, (DPP) in the Ondo State Ministry of Justice had recalled how Ofem with his gang on July 12, 2017 conspired to robbed Adamu Mustapha off his CoolPad phone, Infinix and Nokia handsets. Another witness, Sergeant Franklin Alabi of Enuowa Police Station who tendered the exhibit recovered from the suspect before the court noted that investigation into the case all revealed that the culprit was found culpable in the robbery case. He narrated how the police received a distress call about the robbery attack which took place on the Ore road which prompted the anti-robbery squad to swing into action. Adamu Mustapha, who was also in the court and served as witness to corroborate the prosecutor account, explained that he and a motor-boy were waylaid by Ofem's robbery gang around the liyetu village on the Ondo/Ore road. Mustapha added that the gang laid barricade on the road and their bus rammed into it while the hoodlums emerged from the bush, beat them mercilessly and robbed 2 of them of their personal belongings. According to him, "I and my motorboy ran into a barricade on the Ondo/Ore road and suddenly from no where the armed robbers emerged, they beat us mercilessly and in the process robbed us of our clothes, phones and a sum of N52, 710. "We reported the case to the Police Station at Enuowa Division in Ondo town and few days later they called us that they have recovered stolen items and also arrested the culprits." (source: The Nation) PAKISTAN: Death sentence in blasphemy case A man was sentenced to death and a Rs50,000 fine by Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Raja Safder Iqbal on Thursday in a blasphemy case registered with Yousafwala Police Station in 2015. In case of default on fine payment, convict Arshad Sardar will undergo 6 months imprisonment. Complainant Hanif Athar said Arshad Sardar, a faith healer of village 93/9-L, uttered blasphemous words about sacred religious personalities. The case was registered on May 5, 2015. (source: dawn.com) INDONESIA: 4 Sarawakians caught with syabu may face death penalty 4 Sarawakians, including a husband and wife, may face the death penalty when they were caught with a total of 455grams of syabu worth RM50,000 on Tuesday. City police chief ACP Habibi Majinji said the suspects, aged 19 to 42, were arrested following a tip-off of a drug transaction taking place at a restaurant in the city centre around 6.40pm on September 11. "The 1st arrest were made against 2 men at the restaurant where police found 3 small plastic packets that contained crystal like substance believed to be syabu. "Interrogation of 1 of the suspects then led police to a condominium in Luyang the same day. "Search inside the premise found 2 plastic packets, 1 large and 1 small, which contained crystal like substance believed to be syabu," he said, adding that the couple who was inside the condominium was subsequently detained. Habibi said investigation revealed the total drugs weight at 455grams with market price at RM50,000. Police also confiscated a Mitsubishi Triton, a Toyota Innova, 4 luxurious watches, 7 cell phones and 3 bank book. The suspects have been remanded for 7 days and the case will be investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction. (source: The Borneo Post) IRANexecutions Man Hanged at Saravan Prison 1 prisoner was executed at Saravan Prison on murder charges. According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, September 12, a prisoner who was sentenced to death on murder charges was executed at Saravan Prison. The prisoner was identified as Nazir Ahmad Gomshadzehi from Saravan. Habibollah Sarbazi, Baluchi human rights activist, told IHR, "Nazir Ahmad was in prison for 3 years and 5 months. His funeral was held yesterday evening." According to a report by Baluch Activists Campaign, Nazir Ahmad Gomshadzehi was arrested in 2015.
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September 13 BARBADOS: Debate on abolishing automatic death penalty on hold in Barbados Parliament Lawmakers on Tuesday came as close as they have ever done to striking down a key provision of capital punishment - the abolition of the automatic death sentence - before putting a pause on the measure. The Lower House withdrew the proposed amendment to the Offences Against the Person Act for further consideration by government. The amendment was to bring the law in line with a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling that struck down the mandatory death sentence in the appeal cases of Barbadian murder convicts Jabari Sensimania Nervais and Dwayne Omar Severin. Their separate appeals were consolidated because they both challenged the constitutionality of the mandatory death sentence for murder in Barbados. The justices ruled that a section of the Offences Against the Person Act was unconstitutional because it provided for a mandatory sentence of death. But legislators left a clear message that the death penalty will remain the law of the land. "Let there be no doubt that the Cabinet of Barbados has not made a decision to abolish the death penalty. ... What we are doing simply is abolishing the mandatory nature of the death penalty and making corrections and amendments to legislation to give effect to that," said Member of Parliament for Christ Church East, Wilfred Abrahams, who piloted debate on the measure. "It is not as if we had a choice. While we might have delayed in following the dictates of the Inter-American Human Rights Court or following the dictates of the conventions that we are signatories to, from the time the CCJ made the ruling that the mandatory death penalty was unconstitutional the CCJ set out what the new law for Barbados was going forward," he added. But the amendment to the law was shelved immediately following concerns expressed during the speeches by 3 Members of Parliament (MPs) - Ralph Thorne, Housing Minister Charles Griffith and Maritime Affairs Minister Kirk Humphrey. At the end of those contributions, acting leader of Government Business in the Lower Chamber of Parliament, Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Bostic rose to table a successful motion that debate be suspended. Leading off the discussion when the House resumed its post-lunch session, an emotional Thorne was adamant that the provision in the bill which empowers a judge solely with the responsibility of sentencing a convicted person to death, should be removed. The senior attorney suggested that the decision should be made by jury, contending that it was too heavy a burden to place on the shoulders of one man or woman. "I want to submit to you, your honour, and I want the public that feels very, very strongly on the issue of the death penalty, to consider whether the responsibility, the heavy and final responsibility of passing a sentence of death should fall on one person ... whether it should fall alone on the shoulders of a judge or whether, as in some jurisdictions in the United States ... that grave and weighty decision ... should be made by a panel of 12 persons, and whether that panel of 12 persons would be allowed only to pass that sentence of death if they are unanimous," suggested the MP for Christ Church South. He pointed to a murder case which was sent on appeal to the CCJ, in which it was the jury who had not only convicted the person but also condemned him to death. "Under the system that we are changing ... at the urging of the Caribbean Court of Justice, in a very real sense, it was the jury that was not only convicting but was condemning that man to death. As I said, the judge's role was ritualistic. This amendment ... places that entire responsibility on the judge himself," he said, adding that parliamentarians must now invite the wider public into this discussion. While the lawyer was quick to point out that this discussion had no political borders but was a matter of conscience, he stressed that the masses now ought to have a say in whether a judge alone or jury by unanimous verdict should decide if someone should be executed. The senior lawyer also had issue with section 26 of the Constitution - the "savings clause" introduced in the Independence Constitution of 1966 to keep in force the full body of colonial law as the country ended 339 years of unbroken rule from London. Thorne explained that this provision ensured that the country maintained any "bad or unjust" laws which existed prior to independence in 1966. He recalled that a few weeks ago, the CCJ reminded Barbados that the clause should "not hold the country's legal system hostage indefinitely. "That court remarked that in Belize, when they introduced their independence constitution, their savings law clause was expressed to be for 5 years. In other words, it was transitional. What the savings law clause does in Belize and what it ought to have done in
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September 12 SAUDI ARABIA: Prominent Cleric May Face Death PenaltyEscalating Crackdown on Dissent Saudi prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a prominent cleric on a host of vague charges related to his political statements, associations, and positions, Human Rights Watch said today. Saudi authorities brought Salman al-Awda, 61, before the Specialized Criminal Court, the country's terrorism tribunal, on September 3, 2018. A family member told Human Rights Watch that Saudi authorities allowed him contact with a lawyer at the hearing for the 1st time since his detention a year earlier. At the hearing, prosecutors handed down 37 charges and announced that they would seek the death penalty. The vast majority of the charges are connected to his alleged ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatari government, and his public support for imprisoned dissidents. None refer to specific acts of violence or incitement to acts of violence. "At a time when Saudi Arabia's ambitious economic plans such as the Aramco IPO are stalling out, the crown prince's prosecutors are investing in threatening clerics and women's rights activists with execution," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Unless Saudi Arabia has evidence that al-Awda committed a recognizable crime the authorities should release him immediately." Al-Awda was among the first of dozens of people detained in mid-September 2017 by the Presidency of State Security, an agency established only months before, following Mohammad bin Salman's appointment as crown prince. Al-Awda had remained in detention, partly in solitary confinement, with no lawyer and limited ability to contact family members. Authorities have also detained his brother and banned 17 members of his family from traveling abroad. Al-Awda's charges coincided with the opening of trials against a number of other people for alleged association with the Muslim Brotherhood. Al-Awda was a prominent member of the Sahwa Movement in the early 1990s, which criticized Saudi Arabia's decision to allow the US military into the country to protect it from a potential Iraqi invasion. Since 2011 al-Awda has advocated greater democracy and social tolerance. In January, the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights described al-Awda as "an influential religious figure who has urged greater respect for human rights within Sharia [Islamic Law]," and called for his release. On September 5, local Saudi media outlets printed the first 5 of the charges, and Human Rights Watch reviewed the others from a copy of the court???s charge sheet it obtained. The initial charges are mostly related to his alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and other organizations supposedly connected to it. Saudi Arabia declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization in March 2014. One such organization listed in the charge sheet, the International Union of Muslim Scholars, was not named as a terrorist organization by Saudi authorities until November 20, 2018, over 2 months after al-Awda's arrest. The 1st charge reads: "Corrupting the land by repeatedly endeavoring to shake the structure of the nation and bring about civil strife; inflaming society against the rulers and stirring up unrest; and connection to characters and organizations and holding meetings and conferences inside and outside the kingdom to enact the agenda of a terrorist organization against the nation and its rulers." Multiple charges relate to his public solidarity with imprisoned dissidents, opposing the Saudi-led isolation of Qatar in mid-2017, and alleged ties to the Qatari government. Other charges include having "a suspicious relationship" with the former Gaddafi government in Libya, publicly opposing Saudi Arabia's hosting of former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, "mocking governmental achievements," and "offending patriotism and loyalty to the government and the country..." Another group of charges alleges that al-Awda violated terrorism financing regulations by calling for donations for "the Syrian Revolution" and rebel groups "outside the jurisdiction of official agencies," without citing specific incidents or groups. Al-Awda, merely called for people to donate to charity organizations operating in Syria, the family member said. Saudi authorities detained al-Awda on September 7, 2017. On September 12, 2017, the Presidency of State Security announced that it was taking action against those acting "for the benefit of foreign parties against the security of the kingdom and its interests." Authorities detained al-Awda's brother Khaled later that month after he tweeted about his brother's detention, media reported. He remains in detention. A family member told Human Rights Watch at the time of al-Awda's arrest that he believed it was related to al-Awda's failure comply with an order from Saudi authorities to
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Septmber 12 BARBADOS: Mandatory death penalty to go Government yesterday sought Parliamentary approval to abolish the mandatory death penalty in this country, but Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Wilfred Abrahams, who introduced the Bill, made it clear that the death penalty will remain on the statute books. Abrahams, as he piloted the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill during the morning session in the House of Assembly, explained that the amendment touches on other Acts including the Constitution of Barbados, the Penal System Reform Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, and therefore proposed that it be treated as a cognate debate. His comments came as he indicated that removing the mandatory death penalty for those convicted of murder will bring Barbados in line with international treaties it has signed. Abrahams, who was filling in for Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Dale Marshall, explained that the new sentencing rules, once passed and enacted, will allow the judiciary to take all the facts of the case into consideration in determining if a person who has been convicted for murder should or should not be given a death sentence. He said this is necessary as there are circumstances where a person may have killed another, but it was not premeditated or intentional. Noting that Barbados is a signatory to the International Convention on Human Rights and therefore recognises the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, he said that keeping the mandatory death penalty on the statute books was a violation of the convention, as it allowed for the deprivation of the right to life. As such, he said the Human Rights Court felt that all murder should not be punishable by a mandatory death sentence and consideration should be given by judges to mitigating or aggravating circumstances as they determine an appropriate sentence. He made the point while noting that the Caribbean Court of Justice, this country's final court of appeal, also found as recent as June this year, that the mandatory death sentence in Barbados was unconstitutional. "Our law as it stands now does not distinguish between those 2 scenarios so that the person who did not necessarily intend to kill the victim faces the exact same charge of murder as does the person who intended to kill the victim and that is what the Inter-American Human Rights Court was trying to get across. We cannot stop you from having a death penalty if that is the rule or the law in your country, because some cultures, some people, some societies require the option of death as being the final, most severe penalty the law could impose. But what it says is that sentence of death must necessarily be reserved for the most heinous of offences and the most of serious crimes, such that no other sentence would suffice," Abrahams a former President of the Barbados Bar Association stated. The Minister's comments came as he noted that the last executions in Barbados took place some 34 years ago, and so while persons convicted of murder have been sentenced to death, that sentence has not been carried out as successive Governments have accepted that "it is not fair that there is no option on the finding of murder, but to sentence a person to death". He explained that in countries where death is the final sanction for murder they recognise degrees of the offence, with only the most serious degree being punishable by the sentence of death. "The Inter-American Court and the CCJ and all the other human rights courts make the point that from the time the judge has no other options but to sentence somebody to death, you have stripped away one of the fundamental pillars of our criminal justice system which is judicial discretion. You have denied the judge the opportunity to take all of the circumstances into consideration and give the sentence that fits the crime and also the circumstances of the offence," he stated. Moreover, he argued that keeping the mandatory death penalty on the books, was also allowing the legislature to interfere with the working of the judiciary and was an obvious breach of the separation of powers. (source: The Barbados Advocate) SOUTH KOREA: Push to abolish the death penalty The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday recommended that Korea accede to an international protocol renouncing capital punishment. The 11 members of the commission unanimously made the recommendation that the country join the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to abolish the death penalty, during their 1st meeting presided by the commission???s new chair, Choi Yeong-ae. Korea is 1 of 4 members of the 36-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that have not yet acceded to the protocol, along with the United States, Israel and Japan. Korea has a de-facto
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September 11 TAIWAN: Taiwan's Resumption of Executions Is a Major Diplomatic Own-Goal Taiwan can't effectively preach soft power while continuing to execute its citizens. On the afternoon of Friday Aug. 31, Lee Hung-chi was executed by firing squad at a jail in Kaohsiung. His crime was a heinous one. In April 2014, Lee, now 39, stabbed his ex-wife to death outside the kindergarten attended by their 2 young daughters. He then abducted 1 of the girls and drove into the mountains where he drugged her, before setting fire to charcoal in the car. His objective was for them both to die, but they were rescued. Lee later made a full recovery, but his daughter died in hospital 2 months later. Lee was initially handed a 15-year sentence for the murder of his wife, and a life term for causing the death of his daughter. However, Taiwan's High Court later increased the sentences to life in prison for his wife's murder and the death sentence for his daughter's death. These sterner sentences were subsequently upheld by Taiwan???s Supreme Court in 2016. It is easy to look at the mainstream media coverage of Lee's execution and think the decision to proceed was a straightforward one. According to the Ministry of Justice statement announcing the execution, Lee had shown no remorse and indicated that he still felt the need to gain revenge against his ex-wife's family over her taking custody of his daughters. It went on to claim that Lee therefore continued to pose a serious threat to law and order. But as we have seen time and again around the world, the decision for the state to execute someone has to take into account far more than the individual circumstances and crimes committed. And in Taiwan's unique political position, such broader considerations are even more important. When making decisions over death-row inmates, it seems unlikely that Taiwanese officials give much consideration to the diplomatic implications of the use of capital punishment. That would require the kind of joined-up government that Taiwan is not exactly renowned for. But such considerations should take place because the impact this latest execution has had on Taiwan's international reputation has been profound. This execution comes at a time when Taiwan's standing in the developed world is at something of a high. In the face of ongoing political and diplomatic aggression from the Communist regime in China, Taiwan has retained a dignified position and implemented various effective soft-power strategies which have won admiration around the world. The widespread condemnation of Chinese military exercises in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea and its use of debt-diplomacy to lure the support of Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies has resulted in a steady stream of critical government statements and an increase in negative headlines about China around the world. All of this is to Taiwan's advantage. Meanwhile, Taiwan's soft-diplomacy continues to make inroads with the New Southbound Policy, which notionally adopts a people-centric approach to overseas outreach, beginning to reap real rewards in terms of growing tourism and trade links. The United States in particular has shown huge support to Taiwan in recent times, passing several pieces of pro-Taiwan legislation to allow things like greater military oversight and inter-governmental exchanges. However, all of this progress has taken a knock as a result of the decision to execute Lee because, with the exception of the U.S., there is no other developed democratic country on earth which condones capital punishment. The Executive Director of the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP), Lin Hsinyi told The News Lens that, not long after the Ministry of Justice announced the execution of Lee, her organization had fielded calls from the representatives offices of the UK, Germany and the European Union to find out more about what had happened and why. While they knew that the death penalty still existed in Taiwan, they were of the view that, at least under the current administration, it would not be used. Lin Hsinyi spoke at a press conference announcing the release from death row of Cheng Hsing-tse, who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a police officer. Cheng was the 5th person to be exonerated after being sentenced to death in Taiwan. That is partly because Lee was the 1st man to be executed under since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016. All 3 offices subsequently released statements condemning the execution, along with many other de-facto embassies in Taiwan. The EU statement described capital punishment as ???a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity." It also made reference to the first EU-Taiwan Human Rights Consultations, which were held as recently as this March. At those
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September 10 EGYPT: UN urges Egypt to reverse 'unfair trial' death sentences An Egyptian court's confirmation of 75 death sentences was not based on a fair trial and should be reversed to avoid an "irreversible miscarriage of justice", the UN said Sunday. New United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she was "extremely concerned" at the decision handed down by the Cairo Criminal Court Saturday in one of the largest mass trials since the 2011 uprising. "The evident disregard of basic rights of the accused places the guilt of all those convicted in serious doubt," she warned in a statement. Bachelet, who took the reins of the UN rights office less than a week ago, urged Egypt's appeals court to "review this verdict and ensure that international standards of justice are respected by setting it aside." The 75 people who initially received their death sentences in July were among 739 defendants on trial in the same case -- most of them facing charges of killing police and vandalising property during clashes in 2013 between security forces and supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. "The 739 people were tried en masse, and were not permitted individual legal representation before the court," Bachelet noted out in a statement. "In addition, the accused were not given the right to present evidence in their defence, and the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to prove individual guilt," she said. In light of the obvious unfairness of the trial, she warned that "the 75 death sentences affirmed yesterday, if implemented, would represent a gross and irreversible miscarria ge of justice." In addition to the death sentences, 47 people were sentenced to life behind bars, while the remainder were handed prison terms of varying length. They included award-winning photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, who was sentenced to 5 years behind bars. On August 14, 2013, one of the bloodiest days in Egypt's modern history, a month after the army ousted Morsi, police moved to disperse a sprawling Islamist protest camp at Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo. The military crackdown "is alleged to have led to the killing of up to 900 mostly unarmed protesters by members of the Egyptian security forces," the United Nations said. Despite the large death toll, the United Nations noted that no state security personnel have ever been charged in relation to the so-called Rabaa massacre. Bachelet pointed to the stark contrast between the many mass trials since then and a law passed in July effectively bestowing complete impunity on security personnel for offenses committed in the period after the overthrow of Morsi's government on July 3, 2013. "Justice must apply to all, no one should be immune," she insisted. "Attempts to bestow immunity from prosecution for crimes allegedly committed by members of the security forces merely promotes impunity," she warned. (source: al-monitor.com) Egyptian death sentences a 'gross miscarriage of justice': UN human rights chief An Egyptian court's confirmation of 75 death sentences on Saturday has been condemned by Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as being the result of an unfair trial. Ms. Bachelet expressed her extreme concern at the decision which, if carried out, would amount to "a gross and irreversible miscarriage of justice". The trial is one outcome of the military crackdown on Muslim-Brotherhood led protests in the Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda squares in Cairo on 14 August 2013. It is alleged that up to 900 mostly unarmed protesters were killed by members of the Egyptian security forces. The Government later claimed that many protesters had been armed, and that a number of police were killed. Subsequently, charges were brought against a total of 739 people during a mass trial at the Cairo Criminal Court. These charges included murder and incitement to violence, membership of an illegal group, participation in an illegal gathering, and other crimes. ? In addition to the death sentences, 47 people were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the remainder were handed jail terms of varying length. There have been several mass trials in Egypt, involving hundreds of cases being heard at the same time, and raising many of the same issues about due process and fair trial standards. "The conduct of the trial in the Cairo Criminal Court has been widely criticised," Bachelet said. "And rightly so. The 739 people were tried en masse, and were not permitted individual legal representation before the court. In addition, the accused were not given the right to present evidence in their defence, and the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to prove individual guilt. The evident disregard of basic rights of the accused places the guilt of all those convicted in serious doubt. I hope that the Egyptian Court of
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September 10 BANGLADESH: 7 sentenced to death for murdering Gazipur businessman A Gazipur court has sentenced 7 men to death, and 1 to 5 years in jail, for killing local businessman, Milon Bhuiya, for money. Those who have received the maximum penalty are: Mohammad Ali Hossain alias Hossain Ali, 27, Rajib Hossain Raju, 22, Kaiyum, 25, Mohammad Ali alias Chhoto Ali, 20, Rajib Hossain, 22, Faruk Hossain, 25, and Shafiqul Islam Parvez, 26. Another convict, Masum alias Mama Masum, who received a jail term for his role in Milon's murder, is absconding. The District and Sessions Judge's Court cleared 2 others - Enamul Haq and Shamsul Haq - of charges, on Monday. Case documents show that the convicts stopped Milon at the gate of Bhawal National Park on the evening of February 26, 2011 and attacked him with sharp weapons. Milon was rescued by his relatives but died on the way to hospital. His maternal uncle, Aktar Hossain, filed a murder case with Joydebpur police. The Detective Branch (DB) took over the investigation but the case was later shifted to CID after the DB failed to solve it. CID Inspector Nazmul Haq pressed charges against 10 persons in court on April 22, 2015. (source: Dhaka Tribune) SRI LANKA: UN disturbing by Sri Lanka's plans to resume use of the death penalty "In Sri Lanka, although the authorities have moved too slowly towards meaningful implementation of the transitional justice agenda, the Office of Missing Persons has now begun consultations and institutional capacity-building to fulfil its mandate," said in her 1st speech delivered by the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to the 39th session of the Human Rights Council. "We look to that Office to work quickly, to begin to provide answers to the families of the disappeared. Legislation establishing an Office for Reparations is also underway. More progress in advancing accountability and truth-seeking could have great weight in the long-term stability and prosperity of the nation. Recurrent incidents of racist and inter-communal violence are disturbing, as are announced plans to resume use of the death penalty," she added. Here is the full text of the opening Statement by the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to the 39th session of the Human Rights Council It is an honour to be called to this mandate, to assist States to uphold the human rights of their people, in this year in which we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration is a commitment to values and policies that have delivered tremendous benefit to millions of people. This Council, my Office, and every Member State of the United Nations must continue to push forward with that work. The future of our world depends upon it. I want to acknowledge the courage and the achievements of my predecessor, High Commissioner Zeid. His activism, humanity and formidable intelligence have advanced the cause of human rights, and brought great access and impact to our Office. He truly became the spokesman for those who are voiceless: the victims of human rights violations. Their needs and rights should always be the central focus of our work. Human rights express the core purpose of the United Nations: we can only attain peace, security and sustainable development for all societies when we advance the dignity and equality of all human beings. In the course of my work, I fully intend to honour both the spirit and the practises established by my predecessors. I bring to this mandate my experience in public service and my lifelong dedication to reversing hatred and ensuring equality and respect for all. I have been a political detainee and the daughter of political detainees. I have been a refugee and a physician - including for children who experienced torture, and the enforced disappearance of their parents. I have headed a United Nations body, and I have been honoured to lead my country, twice, as its President. This is the eve of the day on which we Chileans mark the memory of the coup d'etat, 45 years ago, and the ensuing years of brutal oppression and bloodshed. My country has known the pain and terror of tyranny. But I am proud to say we have been able to surmount divisions and meet vast challenges - shaping institutions which enable greater participation, and greater freedom, justice and dignity, for our people. And so I bring to the cause of human rights the diversity of cultures that have nourished my approach to public service. I bring my commitment to bridging the differences between communities, and promoting respect, well-being and freedom. I bring my fundamental attachment to the courage, the dignity and selflessness of all defenders and activists for human rights. I bring my absolute conviction that cooperation between all actors, through
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September 9 SOUTH AFRICA: Death penalty debate re-ignites Amnesty International says use of the death penalty is on the decline and by the end of last year, 142 countries had abolished it. However, there were still 993 executions recorded in 2017, in 23 countries which practise capital punishment, with China still believed to be the world's biggest executioner. In South Africa, the IFP wants a discussion on the death penalty. India recently passed a bill allowing for the death sentence for anyone convicted of raping a child. The move comes after nationwide protests over the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl. Countries carrying out the penalty last year used methods ranging from decapitation to hanging, and lethal injection. The United States has been divided on the issue of the death penalty for decades. According to the latest poll, today 54 % are in favour of sending convicted murderers to death row, while 39 % oppose this. In Uganda, human rights groups want to scrap the death penalty but President Yoweri Museveni is rejecting the move, saying crime will rise. A recent report by rights group Amnesty International applauded some Sub-Saharan African countries for abolishing the death penalty. But with reports of Botswana and Sudan resuming executions this year, Amnesty says there are fears the death sentence may gain popularity across Africa. Back home, the IFP is calling for renewed debate on the death penalty, saying crime is out of control but is it a solution? The Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders doesn't think so. "Nicro is very clear that this is a knee-jerk reaction," said Soraya Solomon from NICRO. "It's been shown, especially in America where some states have the death penalty - others don't and research was done by very renowned criminologists and they found over a 10-year period those states that had the death penalty the crime rate actually spiked, compared to those states that did not have the death penalty." The South African Institute for Violence Prevention says there is no scientific evidence that capital punishment deters violence. In a tweet, it says the IFP should rather focus on poverty alleviation and reducing inequality because the latter breeds violence. (source: enca.com) SINGAPORE: Penal Code set to undergo overhaul, to better protect vulnerable victims against abuse and sexual crimes The 1st major review of the Penal Code in more than a decade has yielded calls for sweeping changes - 169 to be exact - with a key focus on beefing up laws on sexual and abuse offences to protect women and vulnerable victims including children. On top of that, the wide-ranging review covered other areas, and most notably suggested a repeal of 2 laws: removing marital immunity for rape to provide equal access to protection for sexually abused wives, and decriminalising attempted suicide to recognise that treatment, and not prosecution, is the appropriate response. Among other things, the committee also proposed creating a new offence of fraud, which focuses more on the intent of the offender than the effects of deception on the victim. 2 years after it was convened in 2016, the Penal Code Review Committee has submitted its 500-page report to the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Home Affairs on Aug 31. The committee's report was released on Sunday (Sept 9), and a 3-week public consultation will begin the following day, with the proposed changes expected to be tabled in Parliament in November. In calling for a substantive review, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam had emphasised the need to ensure the 150-year-old Penal Code remains relevant and to protect Singaporeans from emerging threats. In a letter - dated Sept 3 - thanking the committee, Mr Shanmugam said that since the last substantive review in 2007, there have been "many societal and economic changes which have been accelerated by technological advancements". "Changes in society also mean that once-relevant provisions are now outdated," he said. "It is my hope that this process will culminate in a revised Penal Code that is principled, proportionate, and practical; one which will continue to serve Singapore well in the years to come." The changes were proposed in light of recent high profile cases which involved the abuse of vulnerable victims. Speaking to reporters on Friday, following a media briefing on the review, Mr Shanmugam said, "In general we try and keep our laws current, but it???s not possible to predict all the different possible arguments and different situations that might arise. And when you learn something, then you change them too." The committee, co-chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and Health Amrin Amin, comprised 14 other legal industry experts. Among the proposals
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September 8 EGYPT: Egypt sentences 75 people to death, Muslim Brotherhood leader gets life in jail An Egyptian court handed out on Saturday, the death penalty to 75 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, while sentencing their spiritual leader Mohammed Badie and 46 others including Essam Sultan and Basem Aouda, for life behind bars, for their involvement in a 2013 sit-in protest which led to deadly clashes. While those sentenced to death by hanging, include senior Brotherhood leaders Essam al-Erian, Mohamed Beltagi and prominent Islamist preacher Safwat Higazi. The Cairo Criminal Court also handed out a 10-year jail term to ousted President Mohamed Morsi's son Osama, while sentencing photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, to 5 years behind bars. Abu Zeid, widely known as Shawkan, earlier this year received UNESCO's World Freedom Prize. He was arrested in August 2013 as he covered the deadly clashes in Cairo between security forces and Morsi supporters. The Cairo Criminal Court is trying 739 persons accused of security related activities, killing and destroying public properties. (source: alarabiya.net) ** Death sentences and heavy prison terms handed down in disgraceful mass trial Cairo Criminal Court today handed down 75 death sentences, 47 life sentences, and heavy prison sentences ranging from 15 to 5 years to 612 people, in a mass trial related to participation in the al-Rabaa sit-in on 14 August 2013. Among those sentenced was photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, known as "Shawkan", who was sentenced to 5 years, which he has already served. Najia Bounaim, North Africa Campaigns Director at Amnesty International, said. "These sentences were handed down in a disgraceful mass trial of more than 700 people, and we condemn today's verdict in the strongest terms. The death penalty should never be an option under any circumstances. The fact that not a single police officer has been brought to account for the killing of at least 900 people in the Rabaa and Nahda protests shows what a mockery of justice this trial was. The Egyptian authorities should be ashamed. We demand a retrial in an impartial court and in full respect of the right to a fair trial for all defendants, without recourse to the death penalty. "Shawkan has already spent more than 5 years in prison simply for doing his job as a photojournalist and documenting the police brutality that took place that day. The Egyptian authorities' disgraceful attacks on press freedom and freedom of expression must stop, and they must immediately and unconditionally release Shawkan. He is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for doing his journalistic work." Not a single security official has been held to account for the events on 14 August 2013, widely known as the Rabaa massacre, where a violent police dispersal left at least 900 dead in 2 sit ins at Rabaa al Adawiya and al-Nahda squares. According to official statistics, 6 security officers were also killed that day. In the Rabaa trial, the group of 739 protesters were collectively prosecuted for the killing of 17 men, including 7 members of the police force, as well as other charges including "illegal gathering", "incitement to break the law", and involvement in violence. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally, for all cases and under any circumstances. (source: Amnesty International) PAKISTAN: 3 bandits sentenced to death for killing Rangers man in Karachi An antiterrorism court on Friday sentenced 3 men to death in a case pertaining to killing of a Rangers soldier and wounding a policeman during an armed robbery. The ATC-XVIII found the 3 men - Imran Iqbal, Shabbir Javed and Irfan - guilty of attacking personnel of the law enforcement agencies when they resisted their robbery bid on Jan 29 within the remit of the Quaidabad police station. Rangers' sepoy Abdul Rauf died during treatment at a hospital, while police constable Umer Wahid survived. The trial was conducted in the judicial complex inside the Karachi central prison. The verdict was reserved earlier by the court after recording evidence and arguments from both sides. The verdict stated that the prosecution had fully proved its case against the 3 men beyond a shadow of a doubt. Therefore, the court handed down capital punishment to the 3 men on counts of murder and terrorism. It also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on each convict. Separately, the court also sentenced convicts Iqbal and Javed to 7-year imprisonment for possessing illicit weapons. They were also ordered to pay Rs10,000 each as fine. According to the prosecution, the Rangers soldier and his police constable friend were intercepted by armed robbers when they were passing through the Landhi 89 area on a motorbike in plain clothes. They were forced to stop the bike at gunpoint. As the bandits were looting valuables and cash from
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September 7 GLOBAL: The death penalty in Indonesia, Nigeria, the world The use of the death penalty is declining: more than 2/3 of countries have abolished or ceased to use it and executions continued to decrease in 2017, Amnesty International says. But capital punishment remains in place in 23 countries, with China still believed to be the "world's top executioner", the group's 2017 report says. Here is an overview: Death penalty decline Amnesty International says that at the end of last year, 142 countries - more than 2/3 - had abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, with 106 ending it in law for all crimes. The latest were Guinea and Mongolia which in 2017 abolished capital punishment for all crimes, while Guatemala outlawed it for civil crimes only. Sub-Saharan Africa made significant progress towards abolition with a big reduction in the number of death sentences throughout the region. Only Somalia and South Sudan carried out executions in 2017 compared with 5 countries in the region in 2016. Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya and The Gambia, meanwhile, took measures to end the use of capital punishment by adopting new legislation or introducing bills. In Europe and central Asia, Belarus was the only country to have carried out the death sentence in 2017, with at least 2 executions down from at least 4 the previous year, Amnesty says. Kazakhstan, Russia and Tajikistan maintained moratoriums. Still killing There were 993 executions recorded in 2017 in 23 countries, a decrease of four percent from 2016 and 39 % from 2015, which was a peak year with 1,634 executions. Amnesty's numbers do not include the "thousands" it says are believed to have been executed in China, which classifies this information as a state secret. Excluding China, Amnesty says Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan - in that order - carried out 84 % of all executions in 2017. Compared to the previous year, the figures were down by 31 % in Pakistan and 11 % in Iran. In Iran, at least 31 executions were in public. Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates took up executions again in 2017. Conversely Amnesty recorded no executions in 5 countries that had applied the death penalty in 2016: Botswana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Sudan and Taiwan, though the latter did execute one man in August 2018. For the 9th consecutive year the United States was the only country on the American continent to execute prisoners, with 23 recorded. The United States and Japan, where there were 4 executions in 2017, were the only countries in the G8 group leading economies to carry out executions. Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago meanwhile handed out death penalties. Countries carrying out the penalty last year used methods ranging from decapitation to hanging, firing squad and lethal injection, Amnesty says. (source: vanguardngr.com) IRAN: Kurdish Political Prisoners in Imminent Danger of Execution Reports from Iran indicate that the Kurdish political prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi are in imminent danger of execution. They have been transferred to the solitary confinements and their families have been asked to visit them today. Ramin Hossein Panahi, another Kurdish political prisoner who was earlier transferred to the same prison remains in imminent danger of execution. Iran Human Rights (IHR) calls for immediate international reactions to stop the possible executions. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: "Zanyar Moradi, Loghman Moradi, and Ramin Hossein Panahi were all subjected to torture and sentenced to death following unfair trials. Their death sentences are illegal even according to the international and even the Iranian laws." Amiry-Moghaddam added: "Zanyar and Loghman's sudden transfer to solitary confinement, shutting down the phone lines of the prison, and the authorities' granting a prison visit to their family on a Friday, all indicate that the Iranian authorities are preparing Zanyar, Loghman, and Ramin's imminent executions. Immediate international reactions by the UN, EU, and countries with diplomatic relations with Iran can be the only hope to stop their executions which may take place already this weekend". Loghman and Zanyar Moradi were sentenced to death on 22 December 2010 by branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of murdering the son of Marivan's Friday prayer Imam. They have denied the charges and said that the initial confessions were extracted under torture. According to a statement by Ahmad Shaheed, the previous UN Special Rapporteur for the human rights in Iran issued in March 2012, "Zanyar and Loghman Moradi were compelled to confess to allegations of murder after being severely beaten and threatened with rape." The statement also said: "... no evidence or witnesses were brought against these men, and that they did not have reasonable access to their legal counsel." Zanyar and
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Sept. 6 IRANimpending execution Execution of Kurdish Death-Row Prisoner More Likely, Prison Officer SaysFears for Ramin Hossein Panahi Grow Despite Torture and Due Process Violation Concerns The execution of a Kurdish death-row prisoner has become more likely, despite credible questions regarding violations of due process in his case, torture and other rights violations. An officer in Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj, west of Tehran, has told the prisoner Ramin Hossein Panahi that disturbances in Kurdish-populated regions have increased the chance that he would be executed. "The prison officer told Ramin that there's a great chance that his sentence would be carried out because prisoners are not kept in solitary confinement for a long time without a reason," Ramin's brother, Amjad Hossein Panahi, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on September 3, 2018. "When there are protests or armed confrontations in Kurdistan [Province] or other places, chances that death sentences would be carried out increases in order to intimidate and cause fright," Amjad added in an interview from exile in Germany. Since his death sentence was confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court in April 2018, Ramin Hossein Panahi's family and lawyers have issued several warnings about his imminent execution. The 22-year-old member of the outlawed Kurdish nationalist group, Komala, was shot and arrested in an IRGC ambush in Sanandaj, capital of Kurdistan Province, in June 2017. Ramin has insisted he did not draw a weapon and therefore the death penalty issued against him is without foundation. He has been convicted on the charge of "corruption on earth" and sentenced to death under Articles 286, 287 and 279 of Iran's Islamic Penal Code. On August 27 attorneys Maziar Tataei, Hossein Ahmadiniaz and Osman Mozayyan said their client had sewn his lips as a protest for the following reasons: "Being denied his legal rights, such as access to medical treatment outside prison as prescribed by health authorities in Sanandaj Central Prison." "Illegally cutting off telephone contacts with his family and lawyers and preventing visitation." "Being denied the same rights and services as other prisoners." "Illegal and unjust verdicts that must be reviewed within legal frameworks." The UN's special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions cited concerns that Panahi was denied access to a lawyer, a fair trial, and that he was mistreated and tortured in detention. (source: iranhumanrights.org) SOUTH SUDAN: South Sudan soliders due for verdict could get the death penalty The verdict and sentencing for 11 South Sudan soldiers accused of gang raping foreign aid workers and murdering a local journalist during the country's 5-year civil war will be announced Thursday and could include the death penalty. An investigation by the Associated Press in 2016 revealed that dozens of soldiers broke into the Terrain Hotel in Juba where they killed a local journalist, raped international aid workers and assaulted others while U.N. peacekeepers nearby did not respond to pleas for help. The verdict, which is expected to be attended by foreigners and diplomats, will take place in a military court 8 months after the trial ended. If convicted of rape, soldiers could face up to 14 years in prison and if convicted of murder they could be sentenced to death. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty. A 12th soldier was charged but he died from sickness in detention earlier this year while standing trial. Both the prosecution and the defendants will have 15 days to appeal the verdict, said the army. The trial, which began in May last year, is widely seen as a test of South Sudan's ability to hold its soldiers to account. The army is hoping the trial will act as a deterrent to other soldiers while sending a message to the civilian population that anyone who commits a crime will be punished, army spokesman Col. Domic Chol Santo, told AP. "This is important because the army has been accused of a great deal of rape, sexual harassment and all forms of violations and it's not part of our doctrine," said Santo. Manager of the Terrain Hotel, Mike Woodward, has been closely involved with the case and says he's happy with the due process and is looking forward to the verdict. "Every single soldier on trial has been identified by at least one if not multiple victims or witnesses. As with any normal legal process we hope that we will be compensated for our losses, that the criminals be punished and that an example is set to discourage others from committing similar crimes in the future," said Woodward. "I've been waiting for this moment for 2 years, where I've felt so alone during this time," one of the rape survivors told AP, which does not use the names of victims of sexual assault. She was the only survivor who came back to South Sudan to testify
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September 5 MALAYSIA: 2 African men sent to gallows for drug trafficking 2 Africans have been sentenced to death for trafficking 2,083g of methamphetamine. In passing judgment, High Court Judicial Commissioner Muhammad Jamil Hussin said the prosecution had proven its case against Nigerian Chikanso Ansalem Okoli, 29, and Ghanaian Desmond Owusu, 25, beyond a reasonable doubt. The duo had committed the offence at 11.05am at a car park in Nilai Square on March 15, 2016. Okoli was then working at a restaurant in Nilai, while Owusu was a student at a private college in Perak. They were charged under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which is punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. Those convicted of the offence face the mandatory death penalty. Both the accused were represented by Datuk Haniff Hassan and Abdul Aziz Hamzah, while Hazeelia Muhammad prosecuted. (source: thestar.com.my) JORDAN: Death penalty for man who killed autistic son, set body ablaze The Court of Cassation has upheld a March Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to death after convicting him of murdering his son who suffered from autism in Amman. The court declared the defendant guilty of murdering his eight-year-old son then setting his body ablaze in Amman on March 8, 2015, and handed him the capital punishment. Court papers said that the defendant was separated from his 1st wife and had not seen his son, the victim, and daughter for over 2 years. One day before the murder, the defendant's brother-in-law called him and asked him to "divorce his sister and to take his children because his sister was no longer capable of supporting them", court documents said, adding "The defendant agreed and took the children to his house but realised that the victim could not talk and needed a lot of attention because of his medical situation so he decided to kill him to get rid of the responsibility." The following day, the court maintained, the defendant bought kerosene and took his son to "a deserted building in Amman where he pushed him from the 4th-storey". "The defendant then went down, made sure that his son was dead, poured kerosene on his body and set it ablaze to conceal the murder," according to court transcripts. The defendant contested the Criminal Court's ruling charging that there were inconsistencies with the witnesses' testimonies during the trial. However, the higher court ruled that the Criminal Court followed the proper procedures when sentencing the defendant and he deserved the verdict he received. The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Yassin Abdullat, Bassim Mubeidin and Hamad Ghzawi. (source: Jordan Times) IRANexecutions Balochistan: Iranian authorities executed 3 Baloch prisoners The Iranian authorities have executed Baloch political prisoners at the dawn of Monday morning (3rd September) at Zahedan prison. According to the Baloch Activists Campaign, 3 political prisoners detained in Zahedan prison were transferred to solitary confinement on Saturday morning, September 1st, 2018 and executed on Monday 3rd September. The Iranian authorities informed the prisoners of their death sentence and execution only 1 day after a recent clash between the armed opposition groups in Balochistan and Iranian security forces. The revenge executions of political prisoners in Balochistan are not new, in 2013 at least a 16 Baloch prisoners were executed. According to Mohammad Marzieh, the Attorney General Zahedan at that time said, 'these people were executed in response to an attack on Iranian border forces near Saravan.' The identity of the Baloch prisoners executed on Monday has been confirmed as Dur Mohammad Shahbakhsh, 21, from Zahedan, Ismail Shahbakhsh, 23 and Hayatullah Noteizahi also known as Akbar 24-years-old. The detainees were arrested July 7, 2015, on charges spreading mischief in the country, cooperating with the opposition groups and participation in an armed conflict against the law enforcement force and murder of an official of border security forces. However, all 3 of them denied the murder and other charges against them. It should be noted that at the time of arrest Ismail Shahbakhsh and Hayatullah Noteiyazhei were shot and wounded. It is worth mentioning that these people had previously referred to the inhuman treatment of interrogators by writing an open letter to detail the torture techniques during detention. In that letter, it was pointed out to the defendants were beaten and subjected to various forms of torture including sprinkling salt and pepper on their wounds and pinching their private parts to coerce them into false confession. Sources informed Balochwara news that the Iranian authorities have not handed over the dead bodies of the victims to their relatives. The relatives have been
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September 4 MALAYSIA: Death Sentence for Malaysia Man Who Gave Patients Free Cannabis Oil A man has been sentenced to death in Malaysia for processing cannabis oil and distributing it to patients in need. On 30 August, the Shah Alam High Court sentenced Muhammad Lukman to death by hanging, after he was convicted of possessing, processing, and distributing cannabis oil. Three litres of cannabis oil and 279 grams of compressed cannabis were found in his home, according to local sources. Lukman, a 29-year-old father of one, provided cannabis oil to patients who were suffering from ailments that were difficult to treat with legal medicines. Lukman did not profit from this, and would provide cannabis oil for free to patients who could not afford it. Despite the lack of financial gain from his endeavour, his offences fall under section 39B of Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. This stipulates that “Any person who [traffics an illegal drug] shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be punished on conviction with death”. Lukman’s defence team called upon patients who had successfully used his cannabis oil to treat their illnesses, and emphasised that he produced and provided the medicine on a non-profit basis for their wellbeing. The prosecution argued that, regardless of intent or revenue, Lukman produced and distributed an illegal drug that is not recognised for its medical uses by the Ministry of Health or any accredited Malaysian physician. This lack of recognition, the judge concluded, invalidated Lukman’s defence. Although it has not been approved in Malaysia, cannabis oil is used to medically treat a range of ailments among adults and children in Canada, many US states, and several European countries. Despite Lukman’s lawyers’ plea for a reduced sentence, his mitigation was rejected and he was sentenced to death by hanging. Lukman will appeal his sentence at the Court of Appeal. “This is not the fault of the judge, he only performed his task in accordance with the written law,” Lukman said. “It’s clear that he was unaware about the truth [of medical cannabis]. I believe this is not the final verdict. If it is, Malaysia laws are cruel.” Lukman’s case is not unique in Malaysia. A former military captain, Amiruddin Nadarajan Abdullah, is currently on trial for providing medical cannabis products to as many as 800 patients, Free Malaysia Today reports. Former patients, including young children and grandparents, are among those who have come to court to show their support for Abdullah – known among his patients at Dr. Ganja. If convicted, Abdullah also faces the death sentence. Malaysia is one of at least 33 countries that retains the death penalty for drug offences. (source: talkingdrugs.org) *** American sentenced to hang in Malaysia for killing ex-wife--An appeal is expected to be filed within the next 2 weeks. An American man was sentenced to death by hanging in Malaysia on Tuesday for murdering his ex-wife, but his lawyer said he was acting in self-defence and would appeal. Gerald Wayne Mickelson, 63, was convicted of strangling Guilda Mickelson in Kuala Lumpur in November 2016, his lawyer K. A. Ramu said. Mickelson, who had been working as a telecommunications consultant in Malaysia, was about to move to the Philippines to be with his new wife when his former partner called him. When Mickelson went to see her in a serviced apartment complex, the 62-year-old allegedly tried to kill him, resulting in a struggle that ended in her death, Ramu said. The lawyer said Mickelson had no motive to murder his ex-wife and even called the management of the building after killing her, rather than fleeing. An appeal is expected to be filed within the next 2 weeks. Malaysia has a mandatory death penalty for murder, which is always carried out by hanging. (source: Agence France-Presse) SINGAPORE: Drug trafficker nabbed at KKIA loses appeal against death penalty The Court of Appeal’s 5-member bench upheld the mandatory death penalty handed down to Henry Chan Kok Loon, 34, in December 2016 for the offence under Section 39(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act. A car service adviser who claimed that ketamine was planted in his luggage without his knowledge at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) in 2015 has failed in his appeal against his death sentence for drug trafficking. The Court of Appeal’s 5-member bench upheld the mandatory death penalty handed down to Henry Chan Kok Loon, 34, in December 2016 for the offence under Section 39(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act. The panel, led by Court of Appeal president Datuk Seri Ahmad Maarop and comprised Datuk Azahar Mohamed, Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin, Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh and Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang, in dismissing Chan’s appeal, unanimously affirmed the conviction and sentence meted out by the High Court. Chan, who was
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September 2 IRANexecutions Execution of at Least 2 Prisoners at Rajai Shahr Prison 2 prisoners were executed at Rajai Shahr Prison on murder charges. One of the prisoners was an Afghan citizen. According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, August 29, at least 2 prisoners were executed at Rajai Shahr Prison. The prisoners, sentenced to death on murder charges, were transferred to the solitary confinement on Monday, August 27. One of the prisoners was named Mojtaba Asadi, who was transferred to the solitary confinement from ward 10 of Rajai Shahr Prison. The other prisoner was an Afghan citizen who was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison from the Alien Section of Ghezel Hesar prison. The prisoner has not been identified so far. A close source told IHR, “He had been in prison for murder for 22 years. He was transferred to the solitary confinement while he was on hunger strike and had sewn his lips.” Another prisoner named Shamsali Abdollahi was also transferred to the solitary confinement who returned to his cell by asking for time from the plaintiffs. The execution of these prisoners has not been announced by the state-run media so far. According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the 517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges. There is a lack of a classification of murder by degree in Iran which results in issuing a death sentence for any kind of murder regardless of intensity and intent. * The Unknown Fate of a Death-Row Political Prisoner’s Brother There has been no information regarding the whereabouts of Farhad Abdollahpour. He was arrested for investigating the condition of his brother who is a death-row prisoner and now Farhad’s family is worried about him. According to a close source, Farhad Abdollahpour was arrested by the agents of the Revolutionary Guard on June 30, 2018. He is the brother of Hedayat Abdollahpour, a political prisoner at Urmia Central Prison who was sentenced to death on the charge of rebellion through providing a Kurdish opposition party with food and shelter. The father of these prisoners told IHR, “I am the father of Hedayat and Farhad Abdollahpour. My son, Farhad, has been in custody for two months. The guards went to the houses of my sons to find guns, which they didn’t, and they beat my son [Farhad] and took him to an unknown place. We have no information about his whereabouts, although we went to security institutions and the Judiciary. On Tuesday (August 28), someone told my wife that Farhad was killed under torture three days earlier. We went to the city governorate and told them about the news. They supposedly called the Ministry of Intelligence of Urmia and were told that our son was alive. They told us that his detention was over a month ago, so why they don't send him to the court? I don't know my son is dead or alive. If he is not alive, deliver us his body and if he is, show him to me so that I stop worrying.” He continued, “His uncle has gone to the court several times and they tell him that they will bring Farhad but they don’t. If he is alive, he must be badly injured under torture, that’s why they are not showing him to us. Twenty days ago, the Ministry of Intelligence told us to visit Farhad but we were only allowed to talk to him in Farsi. His mother didn’t know Farsi so she just sat there in silence. Over the past two months, we visited him a few times. One time, he was so badly wounded under torture that he looked like a corpse. Visiting him was useless because we couldn’t talk in our language.” It should be noted that there was an armed conflict between the members of the Democratic Party of Iran's Kurdistan and the Islamic Revolutionary guards in Oshnaviyeh on June 14, 2016. Following the conflict, a number of locals of Oshnaviyeh were also arrested and convicted on the charges of cooperation with the members of the Democratic Party of Iran's Kurdistan and providing them with food. Hedayat Abdollahpour was one of the convicts who was arrested on June 15, 2016. He was the only one who was sentenced to death on the charge of rebellion due to a complaint by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the verdict of Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia. The verdict was rejected by Branch 47 the Supreme Court. However, Hedayat Abdollahpour was sentenced to death again by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia and he is currently held at Urmia central Prison waiting for his sentence to be issued. (source for both: Iran Human Rights) TAIWAN: Timing of Prisoner’s Execution ahead of Elections Questioned Taiwan’s opposition KMT party has questioned the timing of the execution of a prisoner, after the ruling DPP broke a more than 2-year long hiatus, and executed a man just a few months before nationwide municipal elections scheduled for November 24. Chinese
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Sept. 1 TAIWAN: First execution under President Tsai Ing-wen a crushing setback to abolition hopes Responding to the execution of a 39-year-old man in Taiwan today - the country's 1st execution since President Tsai Ing-wen came to office in 2016 - Amnesty International Taiwan's Acting Section Director, Annie Huang, said: "It is deeply disappointing that Taiwan has decided to resume the implementation of a cruel punishment, especially after President Tsai Ing-wen had stated clearly that her government aims to abolish the death penalty. "That pledge now rings hollow. Today's execution is a crushing setback to the abolitionist movement in Taiwan and an act that casts a shadow over Tsai's presidency. "The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights and can never deliver justice or accountability. We once again call on the Taiwanese authorities to establish an official moratorium on executions as a 1st step towards abolishing the death penalty once and for all." Lee Hung-chi, who was convicted of murder in 2014, was executed by firing squad on Friday afternoon. He was initially sentenced to life in prison by the Kaohsiung District Court, but the Taiwan High Court later changed the punishment to a death sentence - a move approved by the country's Supreme Court in 2016. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. Amnesty opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception - regardless of who is accused, the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt or innocence or method of execution. (source: Amnesty International) ** Human rights groups condemn political use of capital punishment Human rights groups on Friday condemned the execution of a death row inmate, alleging it was timed to boost the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) chances in the nine-in-one local government elections on Nov. 24. Lee Hung-chi, who was sentenced to death in 2016 for stabbing to death his ex-wife and later killing his daughter as part of a murder-suicide by burning charcoal in his car in April 2014, was put to death at 3:37 p.m. Friday, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) confirmed. Lee was the 1st death row inmate to be executed since the DPP assumed office on May 20, 2016, following the execution on May 10, 2016 of Cheng Chieh who killed 4 people and injured 24 in a knife attack on a Taipei Metro train in May 2014. Activists representing human rights groups scheduled a press conference at 6p.m. in front of the MOJ in protest, holding placards that read "killing for votes." "Why did the DPP government chose to enforce an execution now, 2 or 3 months away from the elections?" asked Chiu E-ling, secretary-general of Taiwan Association for Human Rights. "They were aiming at getting more votes." The DPP flies in the face of covenants upheld by the United Nations and international human rights organizations that the issue of capital punishment should not be used for political purposes or electoral gain, Chiu said. "How is the DPP different from the Kuomintang (KMT)," Chiu said. "Does the DPP truly believe in the universal value of abolishing the death penalty?" During the previous KMT administration from 2008-2016, former President Ma Ying-jeou broke the moratorium Taiwan observed from 2006-2009, carrying out 33 executions, several of which were criticized for being timed to gain political leverage. The DPP has recently supported the abolition of the death penalty. Point 26 of the DPP Action Plan adopted in 1999 said the party would "respect life, prevent miscarriages of justice and search for ways to end the use of capital punishment." However, in the previous DPP administration under former President Chen Shui-bian from 2000-2008, 32 death row inmates were executed before he introduced the moratorium in 2006. President Tsai Ing-wen has avoided taking a position on the issue since she assumed office, except her remarks in July that the death penalty remains on the books and that the MOJ would decide under what circumstances an execution could be carried out. During the presidential election campaign in 2015, Tsai said that abolition of the death penalty is contingent on whether the country has reached a consensus on the issue and alternative measures are in place. Head of Covenants Watch Huang Song-lih told the press conference that the DPP administration "made an erroneous decision" to carry out the execution. "President Tsai has repeatedly declared that human rights are the principle on which her governance is based," Huang said. "But the execution demonstrates that her administration has reneged on its promise to gradually move the country toward abolition." In late July, soon after taking office, Justice Minister Tsai Ching-hsiang said that the government's policy to gradually move toward abolition of the death penalty remains unchanged. (source: focustaiwan.com)
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August 31 TAIWANexecution Taiwan carries out 1st execution in 2 years amid anti-death penalty pleas Taiwan executed a death-row inmate on Friday, the 1st execution carried out under President Tsai Ing-wen's government and despite ongoing calls from rights groups to abolish the death penalty. Lee Hung-chi was executed at a jail in southern Kaohsiung city Friday afternoon by firing squad, according to the justice ministry, for killing his ex-wife and 5-year-old daughter in 2014. Lee stabbed his ex-wife to death outside the kindergarten their 2 daughters attended and then took 1 of the girls to his car, where he attempted to commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Lee survived after they were rescued but the girl died 2 months later despite treatment. "His actions were brutal and ruthless ... and inflicted irreparable harms to the victims' families," deputy justice minister Chen Ming-tang told reporters, adding that the court had ruled there was no likelihood of Lee reforming. Taiwan resumed capital punishment in 2010 after a 5-year hiatus, with the death penalty reserved for the most serious crimes such as aggravated murder and kidnapping. Some politicians and rights groups have called for its abolition, but various opinion surveys show majority support for the death penalty. Chen said the government was gradually decreasing its use, but would not abolish it for now. "Abolishing death sentence is an international trend and a long-term goal for the justice ministry ... but there is no consensus in our country," Chen said. There are currently 42 prisoners on death row in Taiwan. Lee's execution was the 1st since a former college student was put to death in May 2016 for killing 4 people in a random stabbing spree on a subway that shocked the generally peaceful island. In 2012 the murder of a young boy in a playground reignited the debate over the death penalty after the suspect reportedly said he was anticipating free board and lodging in jail and would get a life sentence at most even if he were to kill 2 or 3 people. (source: newsinfo.inquirer.net) Taiwan executes convict on president's birthdayMurderer was 1st convict to be executed since president took office in May 2016 A man who stabbed his former wife to death outside a school and caused the death of a 6-year-old daughter became the 1st death row convict to be executed since President Tsai Ing-wen came to office in May 2016. Even though Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party includes several prominent opponents of capital punishment, the practice still receives overwhelming support from the public according to opinion polls. Lee Hung-chi, 39, was shot Friday afternoon, the Ministry of Justice said. It added he formed a serious threat to law and order and showed no possibility of remorse. Before the murder, he had already spent 11 months in prison for violating a restraining order and trying to kill both his daughters and commit suicide. In April 2014, he first stabbed his ex-wife to death and then abducted 1 of their 2 daughters from the school. Having driven to a mountainous area, he drugged the girl and burned charcoal inside the car in order to cause both of their deaths, according to the Apple Daily. He survived, but the girl died 2 months later, the Central News Agency reported. The Kaohsiung District Court sentenced him to life in prison, a combination of a 15-year jail term for killing his wife and life for the death of their daughter. However, the Taiwan High Court changed the sentences to life for the death of his ex-wife and capital punishment for the death of the girl. In 2016, the Supreme Court confirmed the verdict, making it the 1st death sentence issued since Tsai was sworn in as president. The Ministry of Justice said the order for Lee's execution was signed on Thursday, and rejected reporters' questions about a link with the fact that the president was marking her 62nd birthday Friday. Taiwan's most recent execution until now occurred just days before Tsai took over, when student Cheng Chieh was shot for killing 4 people on a Taipei Mass Rapid Transit train. With Lee's death, there were reportedly still 42 convicts on death row in Taiwan. (source: Taiwan News) CANADA: Canadians shouldn't support executions Canadians can influence Florida's death penalty, Aug. 26 Dec. 11, 2018 will mark 56 years since 2 men were hanged in Canada. These last state-sanctioned executions to happen here took place at Toronto's infamous Don Jail in 1962. In 1976, Canada abolished capital punishment. Before some Canadians take issue with Florida's use of the death penalty - a punishment I am against - we should take note of our own country's attitude to sanctioning state murder. Believe it or not, most Canadians favour bringing back capital punishment, even while Americans are slowly moving
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August 30 INDIA: 4 given death penalty in three cases for raping minors in Rajasthan; DGP says police officials directed to take swift action 4 persons have been given death penalty in three cases of rape of minors in Rajasthan since March, when the state introduced a provision for capital punishment if the rape victim is up to 12 years of age, a top police officer said here. Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP) O.P Galhotra said that all police officers have been directed to take swift action in cases of POCSO Act and file charge sheet in courts. The Rajasthan government had passed The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 in March entailing death penalty for rape convicts if the victim is up to 12 years of age. Galhotra, in a statement, said that a rape case was registered at Jhalawar Kotwali on 14 February in which the victim was a 6-year-old girl. A charge sheet was filed on 28 February in court after the probe was completed in 16 days. The court sentenced the accused to death on 24 August, 2018. 3 other accused, 2 in Barmer and 1 in Lakshmangarh of Alwar district, were awarded death penalty in rape cases involving minors. He said that 56 special courts (POCSO court) have been notified in the state to deal with cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The 1st POCSO court was set up in Jaipur on 10 July, 2017. Law and legal affairs department had issued a notification on 6 August to set up 55 new POCSO courts, he added. (source: firstpost.com) THAILAND: Whatever happened to...Thailand's abolition of the death penalty? Almost a decade since the last execution in Thailand, a 26-year-old man was killed by lethal injection for the frenzied stabbing of a teenager. And though no one is saying why the nation has suddenly reversed its position on capital punishment, rumours that it is connected to the royal succession are difficult to ignore. 2 months ago, 26-year-old Teerasak Longji was stretched out on a rack and killed. In decades past, the young Thai man would have stared down a firing squad in his final waking moments. But in 2018, his end came via a lethal cocktail of drugs. Teerasak, whose family was not notified until after his death, was just 20 years old when he was arrested for stabbing a teenage boy in a bloody robbery in Thailand's Trang province. His victim, who was stabbed 24 times by Teerasak, lost his wallet, his phone and his life. Teerasak's execution marks the 1st death sentence to be carried out in Thailand in almost a decade following an arduous campaign against it in the Buddhist nation. Although Thai courts continue to hand down death sentences - 75 last year alone, down from 216 in 2016 - hundreds of men and women have remained on death row for years, waiting for the final blow to fall. Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson described the move as a slap in the face to all the people who had campaigned for an end to executions in the Kingdom. "Seeing Thailand make such a total reversal on a core human rights issue like the death penalty is really disconcerting," he told Southeast Asia Globe. "The Ministry of Justice had previously been touting that Thailand was moving towards abolition and then boom, it was all gone. The NCPO [National Council for Peace and Order, the name adopted by the military junta that seized power in 2014] needs to provide some serious explanations to the entire international community for its unjustified and unacceptable resumption of capital punishment." Despite widespread international condemnation of the move, no explanation for the apparently arbitrary reinstitution of the death penalty has been offered. For some observers, though, the decision marked a logical next step in the junta's ongoing attempt to paint itself as the stern guardian of the Thai people. Exiled political scientist Pavin Chachavalpongpun told Southeast Asia Globe that the revival of a practice long thought left in the past fit with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's self-proclaimed strongman image. "I think somehow this is part of the junta's attempt to 'toughen up' society," he said. "It's the junta trying to redefine what social order is. And I don't think it's just about the junta - the whole of the Thai state, the system has been going in that direction. I'm also talking about many smaller details, instructed by the new king: you have to dress properly, you have to have a certain haircut - this is all part of the redefinition of order." The new king, Maha Vajiralongkorn, who served in the Thai military as both officer and pilot, has taken an interest in the discipline of the nation's security forces - illustrated by a widely shared video from earlier this year showing soldiers and police dutifully practicing a new salute personally created by the monarch, complete with a stiff chest puff and an abrupt twitch
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August 29 INDIA: Man gets death penalty for murdering 4 of family The CBI court here on Tuesday awarded death penalty to Khushwinder Singh (45), who had murdered four members of a Fatehgarh Sahib family 14 years ago. Khushwinder, a resident of Suhavi village in Fatehgarh Sahib district, had pushed Kulwant Singh (45), latter's wife Harjit Kaur (40), daughter Ramandeep Kaur (17) and son Arvinder Singh (14) into the Sirhind canal on June 4, 2004. Only the bodies of Kulwant and Ramandeep were found. The judge handed out the death sentence under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict. The court also awarded life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 5,000, under Section 364 (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder) of the IPC and 4-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000 under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence). Khushwinder had also murdered 6 members of another Fatehgarh Sahib family, who were close relatives of his wife Manjit Kaur, in the same manner in 2012. He is already on death row in that case. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had confirmed the death penalty. His appeal is pending in the Supreme Court. The CBI's public prosecutor, Kumar Rajat, said Khushwinder's elder brother Kulwinder Singh worked as an accountant for Kulwant Singh, who owned a rice mill. "Khushwinder came to know that Kulwant had sold his land and received around Rs 21 lakh. He convinced Kulwant and his family that he could solve their problems by performing religious ceremonies with a godman's help. Later, he pushed them into the canal," the CBI public prosecutor said. The case was handed over to the CBI in 2007 by the High Court following a petition filed by Kulwant's relative Kultar Singh. Khushwinder, who worked as a typist and ran a photostat shop in Fatehgarh Sahib, was nabbed after the 2012 murders came to light. In this case, the victims were his wife's uncle and retired cop Gurmail Singh (70), Gurmail's wife Paramjit Kaur (60), son Gurinder Singh (30), son-in-law Rupinder Singh, grandson Jaskirat Singh and granddaughter Prabhsimran Singh. One member of the family, Jasmine, had survived. Her testimony helped the police solve the 2004 and 2012 murder cases. (source: tribuneindia.com) *** Hindalga may witness South India's 1st hanging since 1983In all, 21 prisoners including Reddy and Natekar who are facing capital punishment are languishing in Hindalga central prison of Belagavi for the last several years. For the 1st time since 1983, Karnataka is getting ready to witness hanging of a death convict. The stay issued by the HC on the execution of rapist and murderer Umesh Reddy and another notorious criminal Saibanna Natekar will end on September 2. According to highly-placed prison sources, the court is unlikely to extend their stay further this time. This means the duo may become the first ones to be hanged after 35 years not only in the state, but also in South India. In all, 21 prisoners including Reddy and Natekar who are facing capital punishment are languishing in Hindalga central prison of Belagavi for the last several years. After the SC sentenced both of them to death in 2005, the 2 filed mercy petitions with the President of India. After sometime, their mercy petitions were rejected by the President in 2013. When the Prison Department was completing formalities for their hanging, the 2 were able to get the execution stayed through the state HC in 2016. (source: The New Indian Express) VIETNAM: SA drug mule sentenced to death in Vietnam A court in southern Vietnam has sentenced a South African man to death after finding him guilty of trafficking nearly 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of cocaine. The Ho Chi Minh City Law newspaper said Tyron Lee Coetzee was convicted in a half-day trial Tuesday. It said Lee was arrested in June 2016 upon arriving at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat international airport after officials found the drug in his bag. The newspaper quoted Coetzee as telling investigators that he was hired by a Nigerian man to transport the drug for $3,500 which would be paid after his arrival in Vietnam. Vietnam has some of the world's toughest drug laws. Trafficking 100 grams or more of heroin or cocaine is punishable by death. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Co-operation he is yet to comment on the sentence. (source: iol.co.za) IRAN: Kurdish Death Row Inmate Sews Lips Shut in Hunger Strike Against Denial of Rights Ramin Hossein Panahi, a Kurdish man in danger of imminent execution in Iran, has sewn his lips shut to protest the denial of his rights by prison authorities. "Unfortunately, our client has sewn his lips ... and started a hunger strike for the following reasons," said a statement dated August 27, 2018, by defense attorneys Maziar Tataei, Hossein
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August 28 EGYPT: 6 sentenced to death over attacking police ambush Aside from their involvement in terror-related crimes, the attack on the ambush, which is located in Al-Khasos city in Qaluybia governorate, resulted in the death of a police officer and also left others injured. The court also sentenced 2 defendants to life in prison (25 years), a minor to 15 years of intensive imprisonment and another defendant to 5 years in the same case that is known in the media as "Khosous Ambush." Back in 2017, there were initially 12 accused of the crime; however, those facing death penalty are Islam Mohamed, Mohamed Sabri, Mohamed Nasar, Ibrahim Abd El-Daher, Abd ElRahman Mostafa and Mohamed Mahmoud Hesham. According to the investigations, the 1st defendant in 2016 established and lead a terrorist group contrary to the provisions of the law that was aimed at disrupting and preventing state institutions and public authorities from fulfilling their duties. This group also aimed to change the regime by force, by attacking police authorities and armed forces. The other defendants also joined this terrorist group and they were taught how to use firearms to assassinate policemen. The investigations revealed that the defendants, from 1st to 5th, 9th, 11th and 12th provided the group with the necessary funds, firearms and explosives so that they can carry out terrorist attacks. With respect to the crime of assassinating a police officer at a special police unit, the defendants all participated in the assassination of Moustafa Mohammed Amin, a police sergeant, as he was at the special police unit when the incident occured. The 3rd defendant also took footage of the assassination as it happened. In June, the court presided by Judge Shaaban Al-Shamy, referred the case to Grand Mufti, Egypt's top religious body authorized to issue Islamic rulings on the execution of the 6 convicted. (source: egypttoday.com) IRANexecution Man Hanged in Ardabil A prisoner was executed at Ardabil Central Prison on murder charges. According to a close source, on the morning of Sunday, August 26, a prisoner was executed at Ardabil central prison. The prisoner, sentenced to death on murder charges, was identified as Shahram Mohammadi, 37. Shahram Mohammadi had been in prison for three years and 10 months. HRANA reported that the prisoner was transferred to the solitary confinement on Saturday. A close source told IHR, "His family was supposed to win the consent of the plaintiffs who had promised to give their consent several times but they changed their mind. Finally, Shahram was executed at Ardabil Prison on Saturday." The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so far. According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the 517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges. There is a lack of a classification of murder by degree in Iran which results in issuing a death sentence for any kind of murder regardless of intensity and intent. (source: Iran Human Rights) TURKEY: Turkish leaders agree to bring back death penalty Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of his far-right junior coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli, have agreed to a proposal that could see the death penalty restored in Turkey, Cumhuriyet newspaper said on Tuesday. The 2 leaders want to see the death penalty restored for terrorism offences and the murder of women and children, having discussed the issue at a meeting held at the end of July, the newspaper said. An amnesty for other crimes is also on the agenda, Cumhuriyet said. Bahceli has long advocated such an idea and his Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) recently produced draft legislation relating to the issue. Both the reinstatement of the death penalty and the proposed amnesty would require amending Turkey's constitution. This requires support from at least 360 of parliament's 600 members. The MHP and Erdogan's Justice and Development Party together won around 20 seats less than this in June's parliamentary elections. Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004, though no executions have taken place since 1984. Restoring the death penalty would put an end to Turkey's already dormant bid to join the European Union. (source: ahvalnews.com) VIETNAM: Lao man arrested for smuggling drug to Vietnam A Lao man was detained by the border guard force of Vietnam's central Quang Tri province on Tuesday when he was transporting 65,800 pills of methamphetamine from Laos to Vietnam. The 19-year-old detainee confessed that he had been hired to transport the synthetic drug by a 27-year-old man from Vietnam's northern Bac Giang province, and a 19-year-old woman from northern Tuyen Quang province, the border guard force said, adding that relevant Vietnamese agencies arrested the duo for further investigation. According to
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August 27 IRAN: Fate of Kurdish inmate on death row unknown: Brother Fearing the unknown fate of a Kurdish activist on death row in Iran, the imprisoned youth's brother on Monday affirmed the family was still working on halting the execution. In April 2018, Iran's Supreme Court ratified Ramin Hossein Panahi's death sentence for his alleged membership to the "outlawed" Kurdish nationalist group, Komala, and for supposedly drawing a weapon on Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) agents during clashes. Ramin's brother, Amjad Hossein Panahi, and his family have been actively engaged with lawyers and activists to stop the Islamic Regime's plan to go through with the execution. On Sunday evening "Ramin went on hunger strike, and at midnight he was taken to solitary confinement. They planned on executing him early in the morning [on Monday]," Amjad told Kurdistan 24 from Koln in Germany. Amjad stated that inmates had told the family that Ramin had been wounded during his transfer to solitary and that when he was taken out of the prison, possibly to a hospital. He suggested the imprisoned activist may have been "roughed up" by prison guards or other inmates, or that he may have resisted movement which could have led to the guards using excessive force. "We think that he may be in one of Tehran's hospitals, but as of yet we don't know his fate and whether or not he has been hanged." "We, as the family of Ramin, don't know whether he is alive or dead." Amjad affirmed that there are ongoing concerted efforts to prevent the execution of Ramin. He revealed that his family were updating the European Parliament on his brother's condition and were working closely with the Kurdistan Region's leading parties to establish contact with Tehran. (source: kurdistan24.net) MALAYSIA: Chile tourists face death penalty in Malaysia for murder 2 Chilean tourists facing the death penalty in Malaysia for allegedly murdering a man in a hotel are innocent and acted in self-defence, their lawyer said Monday (Aug 27). Felipe Osiadacz and Fernando Candia are on trial over the killing of a Malaysian in the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur hotel in August last year, less than 24 hours after they arrived in the country on holiday. The young men have pleaded not guilty. Malaysia has a mandatory death penalty for murder, and if convicted the pair will be hanged. "It was all an accident. A person went into the hotel and demanded money from them," their lawyer Venkateswari Alagendra told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court after a hearing. The Malaysian man then attacked the Chileans and they fought back in self-defence, before calling the police, she said. She said she was confident that the pair, who went on trial earlier this year, would be acquitted. 2 women were seen hugging the men after Monday's court hearing, but declined to speak to reporters. The trial resumes on Sep 24. (source: channelnewsasia.com) INDIA: New law will deter rapists: ModiRapists will get a minimum sentence of 10 years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will get death Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, passed earlier this month, will act as a deterrent against rape and will play an effective role in curbing crimes against women and young girls. "No civilised society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards women. The nation will not tolerate those committing rapes. With this point in view, Parliament has made a provision of the strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill," Modi said in his monthly "Mann Ki Baat" programme. Under the new Act that will replace the ordinance the government had brought in April, those guilty of rape will get a minimum sentence of 10 years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will be given the death sentence. Modi also hailed the decision of a court in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh to give the death penalty to 2 criminals who were found guilty of raping a minor girl. (source: Gulf News) SOMALIA: Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia (A/HRC/39/72)Report from UN Human Rights Council Note by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Bahame Tom Nyanduga, pursuant to its resolution 36/27. In the report, the Independent Expert highlights a progressive improvement of the human rights context, while noting considerable challenges that negate the full realization of human rights in Somalia. The positive developments include the process of establishing the National Human Rights Commission and the fact that Somalia ceased the inhumane practice of public executions in Mogadishu of persons sentenced to deathM The many challenges
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August 26 IRAN/SAUDI ARABIA: Iran warns Saudi Arabia of consequences if activists executed Iran's High Council of Human Rights has warned Saudi Arabia of the consequences of its "cruelties," including reported plans to execute several human rights activists. According to New York-based Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five rights activists from Qatif in the kingdom's Shia-majority Eastern Province. Iran's High Council of Human Rights "seriously warns the Saudi rulers about the consequences of these clear cruelties and crimes against the oppressed people in Qatif and other right-seeking and anti-oppression activists," it said in a statement. The council, a subdivision of Iran's Judiciary, also stressed "the necessity for international bodies, especially the UN and the Human Rights Council, to show sensitivity and pursue the issue seriously." Saudi Arabia has accused these activists of inciting mass protests in the oil-rich Eastern Province, with human rights groups saying the execution threat is a calculated bid to stifle dissent. Israa al-Ghomgham, who has documented the protests in Eastern Province since they began in 2011, would be the first woman activist to face the death sentence for rights-related work. She was arrested at her home along with her husband Musa al-Hashem in December 2015. The Iranian council described reports of the Saudi prosecutor seeking capital punishment for the couple and other activists as "very regretful and distressing given the country's disastrous record" in the past. In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the most vocal critic of the dynasty among Shia Muslims, who had come to be seen as a leader of the community's younger activists. In executing Nimr, the kingdom defied an international outcry and warnings by many rights groups and governments, touching off a diplomatic crisis which sent relations with Iran into a downward spiral which continues to this day. Saudi Arabia may for the 1st time execute a female Shia human rights activist for supporting anti-government protests. "Saudi Arabia's policy of cracking down on Muslim thinkers and activists fighting tyranny on terrorism charges is absurd and unacceptable," the statement by the Iranian rights body said. "Should terrorists be confronted, current Saudi rulers are the prime suspects, who bear responsibility for destroying the lives and possessions of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in the region," it said. "Who has founded, armed and unleashed al-Qaeda, Daesh and similar criminals to massacre innocent people? Who is publicly supporting, politically and financially, perverted and roaming killers such as Mujahedin Khalq Organization?" it added. The notorious MKO group is responsible for killing thousands of Iranian civilians and several officials since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. Senior Saudi officials, including former spy chief Prince Turki al-Faisal, have attended annual meetings held by the terrorist group, raising the stakes in the kingdom's confrontational ways with the Islamic Republic. In its statement, Iran's High Council of Human Rights said the US and major European governments, which arm the kingdom and assist Saudi Arabia's invasion of Yemen, are complicit in the atrocities and should be held to account. (source: presstv.com) CANADA: How Florida and Canada took different directions on the death penalty Canada supplies more visitors to Florida than any other country in the world, with more than 3 million of us visiting the Sunshine State each year. Yet, while the bustle and beauty of South Beach may be just a 3-hour flight from cities like Toronto, there is a sense in which the distance between us is far greater. A decades-wide gulf in fact. We're talking about the death penalty. While Canada abandoned this punishment long ago, Florida remains one of its most enthusiastic proponents. The last executions in Canada were in December 1962, when 2 men were hanged in Toronto's Don Jail. 17 months later, 2 men were killed in Florida's electric chair, in what could also have been the state's last executions. Regrettably, they were not. Florida's halt in executions proved to be nothing more than a 15-year pause. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the U.S.'s capital punishment laws because of the arbitrary way in which death sentences were being handed out. However, later that year, Florida's lawmakers became the 1st in the country to enact a new capital statute. That law was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1976. Less than 2 weeks later, the Canadian parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, except for some military offences. In 1998, Canada removed these last vestiges of capital punishment from its statute books. That same year, Florida - which by then had put more than 40 people to death since
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August 25 GHANA: Death penalty should be scrapped - Justice Dzordzie A nominee for the position of the Supreme Court Justice, Justice Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie, is urging the judicial service to scrap death penalty as a sentence in the country's courts. According to her, Ghana's position as a signatory to some international conventions that are against death penalty as a sentence makes it pertinent that it be abolished. "I think it should be scrapped off our statute books because Ghana has been a signatory to some other international conventions that have abolished the death penalty." Mrs. Dordzie, during her vetting on Friday, August 24 further noted that the inability of the sentence to be executed though it is given in some cases by the court is enough indication that Ghanaians want a change in that regard. "We don't even execute anymore. For over 20 years, I don't think any execution has been done, so though, the courts pass the sentence, we don't execute it so it means that as a people we have come to recognise that we cannot go that way anymore." "If the law says that is what should be done, I have passed these sentences though I am a Christian, that is the law and I must interpret it but I think we are getting to a point now with our relations internationally and what pertains so far as fundamental human rights are concerned, it???s about time we changed". On death penalty in Ghana Death penalty is a sentence given by the court as punishment for very serious crimes. The last time Ghana recorded an execution of a convict, was in 1993 when then-president John Rawlings ordered the execution of 12 convicts via a firing squad. According to Amnesty International Ghana, as of September 2016, there were 137 prisoners on death row, who have not been executed. As a result, many have pushed for Ghana to do away with the death penalty from Ghana's legal system since it is not enforced. Those opposed against the death penalty have argued that it is not the right punishment for a convicted murderer but retributive. Death penalty has been in the country's statute books since the application of the English common law in 1874, but in practice, no execution has been recorded since July 1993. According to the proponents, much as the sentence may be seen in a wider sense as fairness, it doesn???t deter people from committing such crimes. (source: ghanaweb.com) SAUDI ARABIA: Stories Of Executions Undermine Saudi Push To Modernity Reports that detained activists will likely face the death penalty come after the Saudi government's crackdown on women's rights activists under the pretext of 'maintaining national security' Responding to reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecution is seeking the death penalty against 5 human-rights activists, a Saudi political analyst has told The Media Line that no information had been released from the authorities and that "all information is fragmentary, politicized and propagated by media or hostile sources that have fallen into the trap." Sulaiman al-Oquily explained that many media outlets, as well as human rights organizations, believed the "propaganda" that was created regarding the arrest of the activists, who include Shia Muslim Israa al-Ghomgham from the kingdom's Eastern province. "The attorney-general has the right to request the maximum sentence by law," he said, emphasizing that at trial the judge would rule according to evidence. The death penalty reports come after a recent crackdown on women's rights activists in the kingdom which has led to the arrest of at least 13 women under the pretext of "maintaining national security." Authorities in the ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim nation have accused several of them of "serious crimes," including "participating in protests in the Qatif region," "incitement to protest," "chanting slogans hostile to the regime," "attempting to inflame public opinion," "filming protests and publishing on social media," and "providing moral support to rioters." "Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behavior, is monstrous," Middle East director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) Sarah Whitson stated in a report. "Every day, the Saudi monarchy's unrestrained despotism makes it harder for its public relations teams to spin the fairy tale of 'reform' to allies and international business," she continued. Saudi authorities have held all 6 activists in pretrial detention and without legal representation for over two years, HRW stated. Their next court date has been scheduled for October 28. Al-Oquily claimed that activists like al-Ghomgham, who was arrested in 2015 during the "waves of terrorism," endangered "the safety of Saudi civilians, including clerics who were opposed to terrorism," which, he added, also targeted security personnel who were assigned
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August 24 EUROPEAN UNION/LIBYA: EU concerned about Libya court's sentencing 45 former regime supporters to death The European Union Delegation to Libya on Thursday expressed concern over a Libyan court's sentencing 45 former regime supporters to death for killing demonstrators in 2011. "The 45 death sentences issued last week by the Criminal Division of Tripoli's Court of Appeal are a cause of concern," the delegation said in a statement. "The European Union Delegation and the EU Heads of Mission to Libya have a strong and unequivocal opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and for all cases. They further call on Libyan authorities to uphold the de-facto moratorium in place since 2010," it said. Libya's Court of Appeal last week sentenced 45 supporters of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime to death over the killing of demonstrators in the capital Tripoli during the 2011 unrest. On Aug. 21, 2011, the supporters of the Gaddafi regime killed a number of civilian demonstrators near the highway in the capital Tripoli. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday also expressed concern over the court's death sentences, saying it opposes "the imposition of the death penalty as a matter of principle." However, the UN-backed Libyan Ministry of Justice on Sunday rejected the foreign opposition to the death sentences, calling on international organizations and missions to "refrain from interference in Libyan sovereign affairs, especially judiciary." (source: xinhuanet.com) SUDAN: Sudan teen who killed rapist husband faces new calls for death penaltyNoura Hussein got a jail sentence after an international outcry. Prosecutors seek to overturn the ruling that spared her execution State prosecutors in Sudan are calling for the death penalty to be reinstated for a young woman who was sentenced to 5 years in jail for killing her abusive husband. Noura Hussein, 19, was found guilty of premeditated murder in May and had faced execution. But a month later, after a high profile campaign, the verdict was quashed and she was given a jail sentence and fined for manslaughter. However, it has emerged that prosecutors are seeking to overturn the latest ruling and reinstate the death penalty. Hussein was forced to marry at 16. She fled the marriage, but was tricked into returning to her husband by family members. She stabbed him as he tried to rape her. Judy Gitau, a human rights lawyer at Equality Now, which is campaigning on Hussein's behalf, said the development was extremely concerning. "We reiterate our calls to the Sudanese authorities to ensure that the rule of law is observed," said Gitau. "The Sudanese government took a positive step forward for women's and girls' rights by overturning Noura's death sentence. There should be no regression on this." Equality Now is asking Hussein's supporters to send letters of concern to Sudan's attorney general, Omer Ahmed Mohamed, the justice minister Dr Idris Ibrahim Jameel, and the National Commission for Human Rights of Sudan. Asked how she was coping in prison, Hussein told the Guardian she had applied to study law at university. Her lawyers said she had been offered a scholarship to study at the Open University of Sudan. Sudan allows girls as young as 10 to be married. More than 1/3 of girls in Sudan are married before 18 according to the UN, and 12% are wed before they reach 15. Since the case, Hussein's family have been forced to leave their home in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, fearing reprisals from the dead man's family. His father told al-Tayyar daily newspaper in Khartoum that the familywere not going to forgive Hussein. He added that even if she were executed they would still seek revenge because Hussein was only a woman who had killed a man, and women were not equal to men. The No to Women's Oppression group is mediating between the 2 families. Hussein's lawyer said he did not know when a decision on this latest appeal would be made. (source: The Guardian) UGANDA: Uganda's pop star-turned-lawmaker now facing treason charges A Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker who opposes the longtime president was charged with treason in a civilian court on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. The treason charge, for which the death penalty applies, was bound to bring fresh outrage from Ugandans and global musicians after Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, alleged he was severely beaten in detention. The government denies it. Ssentamu has emerged as an influential critic of President Yoweri Museveni, especially among youth, after winning a parliament seat last year. The 36-year-old Ssentamu had been charged last week with illegal possession of firearms for his alleged role in an incident in which Museveni's motorcade was pelted with stones. After the military court freed him on Thursday he was re-arrested
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August 23 SAUDI ARABIA: Outrageous ongoing detention of women's rights defenders reaches 100 days The ongoing arbitrary detention of several women's rights defenders in Saudi Arabia is outrageous, Amnesty International said today, as 3 prominent activists reach 100 days of being held without charge. Since May, at least 12 leading human rights activists in Saudi Arabia have been detained without charge. Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef were all imprisoned on 15 May and today (23 August) marks 100 days since their detention. "It is absolutely outrageous that so many brave human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia are still being held without charge - apparently for simply speaking out against injustice," Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East Director of Campaigns "They have been detained without charge and with no legal representation for more than three months. This must not go on any longer. The world cannot carry on looking the other way as this relentless persecution of those who stand up for human rights in Saudi Arabia continues." To mark the 100 day anniversary, Amnesty International is today mobilising its supporters worldwide to stand with the detained human rights defenders. As part of the campaign, Amnesty International supporters are gathering in multiple cities around the world to protest outside of Saudi Arabian embassies. They will be putting pressure on the Saudi Arabian authorities, as well as their own governments, to take action to secure the release of the women human rights defenders and all prisoners of conscience who have been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights in Saudi Arabia. Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef have faced accusations in state-aligned media which include forming a "cell" and posing a threat to state security for their "contact with foreign entities with the aim of undermining the country's stability and social fabric". Amnesty International understands that the three women may be charged and tried by the country's notorious counter-terror court, which has been used in other instances to try human rights defenders and deliver harsh prison sentences. Earlier this month, 2 more prominent women human rights activists - Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sada - were also detained. Others detained recently include women's rights activists Nouf Abdulaziz and Maya'a al-Zahrani, and activists who have previously been persecuted for their human rights work, such as Mohammed al-Bajadi and Khalid al-Omeir. Hatoon al-Fassi, a prominent women's rights activist and academic was also reportedly detained a few days after Saudi Arabia lifted the driving ban in June. So far, a total of 12 human rights defenders have been detained: 8 women and 4 men. The crackdown began shortly before Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving in the country. Many of the activists detained campaigned for the right to drive and the end of the repressive male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia for many years. "The international community must push the Saudi Arabian authorities to end this targeted repression of activists in the country. States with significant influence in Saudi Arabia - such as the USA, UK and France - should do much more to campaign for their release," said Samah Hadid. "Saudi Arabia must release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally, and end the draconian crackdown on freedom of expression in the country." Background The crackdown on activists and women human rights defenders comes despite Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman presenting himself as a 'reformer' in recent months. His international public relations campaign contrasts sharply with an intensifying crackdown on dissenting voices, including those campaigning for equal rights for women. Amnesty International is also calling for an end to all forms of discrimination against women, including the guardianship system. Earlier this month, the Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia was expelled after a tweet from Canadian Foreign Policy account said: "Very alarmed to learn that Samar Badawi, Raif Badawi's sister, has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Canada stands together with the Badawi family in this difficult time, and we continue to strongly call for the release of both Raif and Samar Badawi". Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry accused Canada of "overt and blatant interference in the internal affairs" of the country. Amnesty International is calling on other governments to join Canada in increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia to end the crackdown on freedom of expression in the country. ** Appalling plan to execute female activist must be stopped Responding to news that Saudi Arabia is seeking the death penalty for 5 individuals who face trial before Saudi Arabia's counter-terror court, including Israa al-Ghomgham, who
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August 22 LIBYA: 45 Sentenced to Death for 2011 KillingsDue Process Concerns in Mass Trial Libya's judiciary convicted 99 defendants in a mass trial on August 15, 2018, sentencing 45 to death and 54 to 5 years in prison, Human Rights Watch said today. The judiciary has a record of conducting unfair trials. The Government of National Accord should uphold the de-facto moratorium on the death penalty and move toward complete abolition. Libya's Supreme Court, in its review of the verdict, by the Tripoli Court of Appeals, should critically evaluate the evidence in the case, including whether confessions were extracted through torture or other illegal means. "A judiciary that is in shambles has no business sentencing defendants to death by the dozen," said Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The quest for justice for past crimes can be fulfilled only through trials that are fair, not through judicial killings." Since the end of the 2011 revolution that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, the right of defendants to a fair trial has continued to be undermined by obstacles to accessing lawyers, the use of coerced confessions as evidence, lack of access to court documents, and prolonged arbitrary detention, with no respect for due process. Human Rights Watch has also documented intimidation, threats, and attacks by armed groups against lawyers, prosecutors, and judges. Courts and prosecutors' offices are only partly operational and are shut in some parts of the country. The trial relates to the killing of protesters during the 2011 revolution. In an incident widely referred to the "Abu Saleem Highway Massacre," Gaddafi sympathizers and members of his security forces in August 2011 allegedly ambushed and killed 146 anti-Gaddafi protesters in the Abu Saleem area of Tripoli, the capital, and hid some of the remains. Various armed groups started to round up people allegedly involved in the killings after the 2011 revolution ended. However, prosecutors only started interrogating the suspects in 2014. The case went to court in August 2015. Human Rights Watch in October 2015 interviewed some of the defendants at a prison known as "Al-Roueimy" in the Ain Zara area of Tripoli. Defendants described ill-treatment that appeared to amount to torture at various detention facilities, including one run by the Abu Saleem Council, an armed group controlling the area since 2011. The defendants also said they had lacked access to lawyers during their interrogation, and initial court sessions. A defendant also said that armed guards would accompany defendants to interrogation sessions with the prosecutors, which they found intimidating. A statement on August 15 by the Justice Ministry of the internationally backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli said that the court had originally charged 128 people in the "Abu Saleem Highway" incident. In addition to the 99 sentenced and 22 acquitted by the court on August 15, one defendant was freed under an amnesty law, 3 died in detention in circumstances that the statement did not elucidate and the cases of the remaining t3 had been tried previously. Both the prosecutor and defendants can seek a review by the Supreme Court cassation chamber. Also, under Libyan law, the Supreme Court reviews all death sentences and must confirm them before an execution can be legally carried out. In an August 19 statement, the Justice Ministry emphasized that "the defendants in this case were given a fair trial and that all judicial guarantees were made available to them." International human rights law upholds every human being's inherent right to life, and for countries that have not agreed to ban the death penalty completely, it limits the death penalty to the most serious crimes, typically crimes resulting in death. It strictly forbids the application of the death penalty in any case in which it does not appear that the defendant received a fair trial. In Libya, the death penalty appears frequently in legislation as a proposed punishment for various crimes, including at least 30 articles of the Penal Code. Human Rights Watch opposes capital punishment in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty and its irreversible and inhumane nature. No death sentences have been implemented since 2010. The August 15 Justice Ministry statement said that the court president and members, the defense lawyers, and relatives of victims and the defendants were present during the reading of the verdict. The statement makes no reference to whether the defendants attended. (source: Human Rights Watch) SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka to end execution moratorium soon: president Sri Lanka will soon resume executions after a 42-year moratorium but will send home 5 Pakistanis sentenced to death for drug smuggling for execution in their home country, President Maithripala Sirisena said Wednesday.
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August 21 CHINA: Death penalty possible in fatal arson case A man is facing the death penalty after admitting to starting a fire that killed 18 people in a karaoke bar in Guangdong province in April. Liu Chunlu, 32, was prosecuted on charges of intentional homicide and arson during a public hearing on Thursday in a court in Yingde. The court heard that Liu arrived at the bar on Chayuan Road with friends on the evening of April 23 for a night of singing and drinking. While there, the defendant expressed his fondness for a female staff member, surnamed Zhang, but she rejected him, according to the indictment, which was published online. He had also failed to reach a business deal after negotiating with another man at the bar, which he blamed on interruptions by someone identified as the venue's manager, it added. In anger, Liu went to his motorcycle, which was parked by the entrance of the karaoke bar, disconnected its fuel pipe and spread gasoline around on the ground. He then used a cigarette lighter to set the fuel ablaze, despite his friends attempts to stop him, the indictment said. Flames quickly spread to other motorcycles, blocking the exit of people inside the bar. 15 men and 3 women died of carbon monoxide poisoning. 3 other people were injured, one of them seriously. Liu fled the scene but was caught by police on April 24. During Thursday's hearing, a tearful Liu confessed to the charges, Nanfang Metropolis Daily reported on Sunday. The court has yet to issue a verdict. The charge of intentional homicide carries the death penalty in China. The trial was witnessed by relatives of both the defendant and the victims as well as political advisers, local media representatives, residents and others. Liu Xiangfu, the head prosecutor who tried the case, said Liu's crime was grievous, as many people were killed. "He committed intentional arson and caused serious casualties and big economic losses," he told the court. "The facts are very clear, and the defendant should be held responsible for his crimes and punished." (source: ecns.cn) SAUDI ARABIA: Saudis campaign for female activist on death row Saudi human rights activists have warned against the possible beheading of detained female political activist Israa al-Ghomgham, who has been provisionally sentenced to death by a Riyadh court. On 6 August, in a first hearing before the Specialised Criminal Court in the capital, the public prosecutor recommended the death penalty for 6 defendants, including Ghomgham and her husband, Moussa al-Hashem, who have been jailed for nearly 3 years on charges of anti-government protests, incitement to disobedience of the ruler, and providing moral support to participants in anti-government protests in the Shia-majority eastern region of Qatif. Ghomgham, 29, and Hashem were arrested on 8 December 2015 in a house raid by Saudi security forces. She was one of the leaders of anti-government protests that have erupted in Qatif since 2011, demanding an end to anti-Shia discrimination and the release of political prisoners. According to Saudi human rights groups, Ghomgham, who belongs to a low-income family, could not afford a lawyer throughout her 32 months in detention. After her case became known, however, many lawyers offered their services to her family pro bono. The final session for Ghomgham's case is scheduled for 28 October. A judge will either confirm or reverse the death penalty recommendation issued by the public prosecutor in August. Beheadings usually take place in Saudi Arabia after the decision is ratified by the king - in this case, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. "Sentencing a female human rights defender to death is a dangerous precedent in Saudi Arabia," said Ali Adubisi, director of the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR). Adubisi said all the charges against Ghomgham were related to her activism, adding that none of the charges levied against her involved use of violence that would warrant the death penalty under Saudi law. "It's largely a revenge against the Arab Spring, and a punishment for Qatif, which witnessed the largest protests since 2011," Adubisi told MEE. According to the latest tally by ESOHR, at least 58 people, most of them Shia, are currently on death row in Saudi Arabia, 31 of whom had their verdicts confirmed by the High Court. The preliminary death penalty verdict against Ghomgham has prompted a campaign for her release on social media, with many warning this could be the 1st time Saudi Arabia executes a female political activist. (source: Middle East Eye) IRAQ: Iraqi sentences 14 more to death for involvement in Speicher massacre Iraqi judicial authorities have sentenced 14 people to death for participating in the 2014 execution of hundreds of Iraqi air force cadets claimed by the Islamic State (IS) in the northern city of Tikrit. "The Iraqi judiciary
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August 19 INDIA: It's been 10 years, but India still doesn't want to replace hanging with lethal injectionA decade after looking at options to replace death by hanging with a 'more humane' way, ministry says no such proposal being examined. About a decade after the Centre started looking at various options, including lethal injection, to find a 'more humane' way to replace death by hanging for convicts awarded death penalty by the courts, the process seems to have been discarded without any decision being taken. In a cryptic response to an RTI application filed by ThePrint asking what progress, if any, had been made on the proposal to replace the system of administering death through, what many call gruesome, hanging, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, "...It is stated that at present there is no such issue (of giving death through a means other than hanging) being examined in this Ministry." History of demand Under Section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the mode of execution of death sentence is hanging till death. In 2008-2009, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had begun consultations with stakeholders, including state governments - law and order is a state subject - on whether death by hanging should be replaced with a 'more humane' method. The move came after careful examination of the 187th report of the Law Commission of India on "Mode of Execution of Death Sentence and Incidental Matters," which was submitted to the government in October 2003. In its report, the commission recommended that Section 354(5) of the CrPC be amended by providing an "alternative mode of execution of death sentence by lethal injection until the accused is dead". "It will be in the discretion of the Judge to pass an appropriate order regarding the mode of execution of death sentence. The convict shall, of course, be heard on the question of mode of execution of death sentence before such discretion is exercised," it said. In the same report, the Law Commission also recommended that death sentence matters must be heard only by a 5-judge bench of the Supreme Court. Interestingly, the report also mentioned various methods of administering death that have been used since ages including crucification (Jesus Christ), burning at the stake, the wheel, guillotine (King Charles I), hanging and garrote, headman's axe, firing squad, gas chamber, electrocution, and death by hanging. In its report, the commission also cited the landmark Supreme Court judgment on death penalty - Bachan Singh versus State of Punjab - where the court observed that physical pain and suffering which the execution of the sentence of death (hanging) entails is no less cruel and inhuman. MHA consultations with states Between 2008 and 2010, the MHA wrote to state governments seeking their views on the Law Commission report as also the need to replace death by hanging with some other method. Barring a few states, majority of the governments strongly favoured replacing death by hanging with lethal injection. Several governments also agreed with the commission recommendation that death sentence matters be heard only by a 5-judge bench of the Supreme Court, with some even suggesting that in case of even 1 judge dissenting, death should not be awarded. But, it now seems the Centre has put an end to the consultations and has decided to stick to the death by hanging method. Incidentally, the clamour of awarding death sentence to rapists and terrorists has also been receiving more support in recent times. In a report on the issue of death penalty, in 2015, the Law Commission suggested abolition of the death penalty from the statute books, saying it should be awarded only in cases where the accused is convicted of involvement in a terror case. However, the government hasn't accepted the report so far. (source: theprint.in) *** Death penalty for child rapists must stay The Supreme Court has rightly upheld the death penalty because India cannot furnish free shelter, food and education to child rapists, terrorists and dissolute murderers. They must be sent to meet their Maker who alone knows why some human beings were born notwithstanding the United Nations insisting that the death penalty should be gradually reduced in all member countries until the utopia of its complete abolition is reached. India has adopted a middle path between Saudi Arabia, which beheads those accused of crimes against morality and the Vatican, which teaches that as God is the creator of life, no country has the right to execute any human being, including murderers and child rapists. Human rights activists who toe this line find themselves being isolated within India. A middle path is the correct path which is why the Central government wants to retain the death penalty. Although government statistics claim 52 persons were executed since independence, the
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August 19 BANGLADESH: 5 get death sentence, 2 jailed for life in NatoreAfter examining all the records and witnesses, the Natore additional district and session judge passed the verdict 5 people have received the death penalty and 2 others got lifetime imprisonment, by a court in Natore, for killing a man in Singra upazila in 2004. After examining all the records and witnesses, Natore additional district and session judge Mohammad Saifur Rahman Siddiq passed the verdict. According to the prosecution, the convicts picked up lessee Abdul Kader Dudu from his house, on February 3 in 2004, because of a former disagreement. After that, they gunned him down and stabbed him to death at a local market. The victim's wife filed a murder case to Singra Police Station the next day, reports UNB. The guilty have been identified as: Hafizur Rahman, Bulu, Khalilur Rahman, Majibur Rahman Majid, and Monir Hossain - while the lifers are Abdul Hakim and Nazrul Islam. Among the convicts, 4 are still on the run from the law. (source: Dhaka Tribune) PAKISTAN: Life After Death: Why Capital Punishment Does Not Work in PakistanAfter juvenile offenders, mentally ill and innocent people were found to have confessed to crimes under duress, questions are being raised if the death penalty is being awarded to the right people. (see:https://thewire.in/south-asia/pakistan-capital-punishment-does-not-work) (source: thewire.in) INDIA: Madhya Pradesh to 'reward' prosecutors when courts grant death penalty, lifer: The Indian ExpressThe system is likely to encourage them to facilitate speedy trials and quick convictions in rape cases. The Madhya Pradesh government has come up with a "reward system" to encourage state prosecutors to facilitate speedy trials and quick convictions in rape cases, The Indian Express reported on Sunday. The prosecutors are now awarded 1,000 points for a death sentence, 500 for life imprisonment and 100 to 200 for the maximum punishment in a lower court. The prosecutors also receive tags like "best prosecutor of the month" and "pride of prosecution", for those who have collected over 2,000 points a month. However, those who receive less than 500 points will get a strict warning. The assessments will be carried out through the eProsecution MP App, which was launched 8 months ago. "Now that the prosecutors are required to keep a daily account of their activities, the conviction rate has improved," Director of Public Prosecution Rajendra Kumar told The Indian Express. "With the reward system in place, prosecutors now go the extra mile to log more points. Though there's no monetary award yet, these achievements will be recorded in their annual confidential report." Asked what would happen if the higher court disagrees with the lower court's ruling, Kumar said, "Only if the high court passes strictures, we will take a call on punishing the prosecutors." He claimed that prosecutors were competing with each other since the new system was introduced 2 months ago. In December, the Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed a bill that awards death penalty to rapists who assault minors aged 12 or below. But it remained pending with the Centre. In July, Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, providing for similar penalty. Over the last 6 months, courts in Madhya Pradesh have handed down 10 death sentences. The high court has confirmed 1 so far. (source: scroll.in) Man sentenced to death for raping and crushing a woman's head with stone A local court has awarded death penalty to a man for raping and killing a woman while he was out on bail after being convicted earlier for a murder A local court has awarded death penalty to a man for raping and killing a woman while he was out on bail after being convicted earlier for a murder. While sentencing him to death, Prakash Lahase (34) on Friday, Sessions Judge of Special Court Rajesh Nandeshwar observed, "The case falls in the category of the rarest of rare cases. Such persons are like gangrene in society which has to be removed from the body to save it." Quoting the judge, public prosecutor Shantaram Wankhede said, "The judiciary has a duty to remove the accused from the society. Criminals will have a free run if they are not punished properly, and the fear in them of deterrent will end." The public prosecutor said that judge Nandeshwar sentenced Lahase to death under Section 302 (murder) and awarded him life imprisonment on 2 different counts - Section 376 (2) (sexual assault) and 364 (kidnapping to kill) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In 38 days, the court examined 38 witnesses before pronouncing the verdict, he said. Prosecutor Wankhede said that Lahase had kidnapped the 30-year-old victim on May 17 this year from Khadkod village, some 8 kilometres from the district headquarters. "He raped the woman at a deserted place and killed
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August 18 INDIA: Man out on bail for murder gets death sentence for raping woman in Madhya PradeshAt least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various courts in the state since February this year so far. A local court has sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a woman while he was out on bail after being convicted earlier for a murder. While awarding the death penalty to Prakash Lahase (34) yesterday, Sessions Judge of Special Court Rajesh Nandeshwar observed, "The case falls in the category of the rarest of rare cases. Such persons are like gangrene in society which has to be removed from the body to save it." Quoting the judge, public prosecutor Shantaram Wankhede said, "The judiciary has a duty to remove the accused from the society. Criminals will have a free run if they are not punished properly, and the fear in them of deterrent will end." The public prosecutor said that judge Nandeshwar sentenced Lahase to death under Section 302 (murder) and awarded him life imprisonment on 2 different counts -- Section 376 (2) (sexual assault) and 364 (kidnapping to kill) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In 38 days, the court examined 38 witnesses before pronouncing the verdict, he said. Prosecutor Wankhede said that Lahase had kidnapped the 30-year-old victim on May 17 this year from Khadkod village, some 8 kilometres from the district headquarters. "He raped the woman at a deserted place and killed her by crushing her head with a stone. He then disposed of the body in a well," Wankhede said. Judge Nandeshwar, while delivering his verdict, also said that women were feeling "extremely helpless and insecure" following a spurt in rape cases, Wankhede said. At least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various courts in the state since February this year. Under fire for growing number of rape cases, the MP government had brought a Bill in December last year, a first for the country, prescribing the death penalty for those convicted of raping minors below the age of 12. It also set up 50 fast track courts to speed up the trial of those accused of rape. According to statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau released in November last year, MP accounted for the the highest number of rape cases at 4,882 out of a total of 38,947 recorded nationwide in 2016. The figure of 4,882 included 2,479 cases involving minor victims. Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of rape cases (4,391) in 2015 too, according to the NCRB report. (source: newindianexpress.com) TANZANIA: Msuya killers file appeal against death sentence The death sentence against the quintet was passed on July 23, this year, by Judge Salma Maghimbi of the High Court, whereby she acquitted the 2nd accused Shwaibu Jumanne alias Mredii. The convicts are the 1st accused Sharifu Mohamed, Mussa Mangu (3rd accused), Karim Kihundwa (5th accused), Sadik Jabir (6th accused) and the 7th accused Ally Majeshi. (source: thecitizen.co.tz) MALAYSIA: Malaysia frees Metuh of drug charge, death sentence A Nigerian student, Joseph Metuh Onyinye has been freed of a drug charge in Malaysia after the prosecution failed to prove that he knew that an unopened parcel contained methamphetamine, known locally as syabu. Justice Datuk Lim Chong Fong of the High Court in George Town acquitted Joseph Metuh Onyinye, 35, without calling for his defence. He ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Onyinye, who was charged with trafficking 1.8kg of syabu. The Nigerian was charged with committing the offence on Oct 31, 2014, at about 3.10pm at Miami Green Resort Condominium in Batu Ferringhi, Penang. In his decision, Lim said the prosecution had not proven possession as the parcel was still unopened and was intact at the point of arrest. Moreover, it was not addressed to Onyinye. "In this case, the prosecution has not proven possession because there was no evidence that he (Onyinye) had knowledge of the existence of the drugs inside the parcel that was delivered," he said. The Nigerian was charged with committing an offence under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act. It carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction. (source: nan.ng) IRANexecutions Iran executes 6 for theft, looting Iranian authorities on Saturday executed 6 people on charges of looting and theft in the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the state television. State prosecutor Hassan Haidari said the executions were carried out upon the approval of the High Court of Justice. According to Haidari, the 6 people "were not poor" and were in no need to steal. "The death penalty should be a lesson for everyone who harms the safety and integrity of society," he said. Iran has been facing economic difficulties as the U.S. re-imposed
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August 17 SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka President to end moratorium on death penalty Sri Lanka's president says the government will still end its 42-year moratorium on capital punishment despite requests by the European Union and other diplomatic missions not to do so. President Maithripala Sirisena said the decision to implement the death penalty for drug smugglers "will not be changed under any circumstance and despite the objections raised by some factions against the move," according to the president's website. Last week, Sirisena said convicted drug traffickers will be hanged as a part of the government's crackdown on narcotics. Sri Lanka has maintained the moratorium since its last execution in 1976. No date has been set for the 1st new execution. (source: Vassar News) VATICAN CITY: 5 Catholic priests and scholars ask Francis to backtrack on death penaltyThe pope???s revision to the Catechism calls capital punishment "inadmissible." A group of 75 Catholic clergy members and scholars have urged Pope Francis to backtrack on his decision to declare the death penalty "inadmissible" in Catholic teaching. Earlier this month, Pope Francis authorized a change in the Catholic Catechism, the official teaching document of the church, to intensify the language pertaining to the defensibility of the death penalty. Since the catechism was first published in 1992, the church has said the death penalty should be used only in very rare situations. Francis's change, though, denied that the death penalty could ever be compatible with Catholic teaching, on the grounds that "the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes." While the move drew praise from anti-capital-punishment advocates, such as Sister Helen Prejean, who called it a "great day for human rights," some of Pope Francis's more conservative critics remained wary. An open letter was published Wednesday morning in First Things, a conservative-leaning Catholic journal, and was signed by several prominent Catholics, including Fr. George Rutler and Fr. Gerald Murray of the Archdiocese of New York. The letter argues that, by refining Church teaching on the death penalty, Pope Francis casts doubt on the authority of the church's teaching body, known as the magisterium. "To contradict Scripture and tradition on this point would cast doubt on the credibility of the magisterium in general," the letter reads, calling Pope Francis's decision a "gravely scandalous situation." The signatories call upon the College of Cardinals "to advise His Holiness that it is his duty to put an end to this scandal, to withdraw this paragraph from the Catechism, and to teach the word of God unadulterated." The Vatican has not replied nor is it likely to do so. Another critical open letter, known as the dubia, or "doubts," authored by senior Catholic figures, including 4 Cardinals, protested Francis's perceived openness to giving communion to divorced-and-remarried couples. It remains unanswered after almost 2 years. The presence of the open letter speaks to wider divisions within the church over Francis's papacy, and, in particular, conservative concern that Francis is overstepping the traditional boundaries and protocol of his office. However, the Vatican hierarchy may have more pressing concerns at the moment. This week, a Pennsylvania grand jury released a catastrophic report implicating at least 300 priests in the state of child sexual abuse against more than 1,000 minors. (source: vox.com) UGANDA: Ugandan Pastor Stoned to Death Police in Uganda's West Nile region said this week that they were holding 3 South Sudanese in connection with last week's brutal killing of a Ugandan preacher at the Pagirinya refugee settlement in Adjumani district. Superintendent Josephine Angucia, a spokeswoman for the West Nile regional police, said Pastor Bunia Margaret of the Victory Church, which operates in Uganda's Adjumani and Moyo districts, was killed in broad daylight by a mob at the Pagirinya II trading center after a group of Christian evangelical leaders had accused her of being a witch. "This deceased pastor, Margaret, went to preach the word of God at the refugee camps of Adjumani district. She got a big congregation. According to witnesses, this did not go well with other pastors at the refugee camps. Out of jealousness, they mobilized and came up with a memorandum labeling Bunia Margaret to be a witch," Angucia told VOA's South Sudan in Focus. South Sudanese refugee leaders at the settlement said Margaret arrived in May and established her church in Pagirinya II's Block E. John Wani, who lives in Pagirinya Block E, said Margaret attracted mostly women and children. He said the pastor claimed she had the power to heal any disease. This, he said, encouraged some to abandon their homes and camp at the church, often for several days. As a result,
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August 16 GLOBAL: Time to work for global abolition of the death penlty In 1976, after an impassioned, last-minute speech by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the House of Commons narrowly passed Bill C-84, abolishing the death penalty in Canada. It was abolished after a decade of fierce debate. Sister Helen Prejean writes Dead Man Walking and narrates the movie of the same name for which Susan Sarandon received an academy award playing the role of Sister Helen. Years later I attended a talk by Sister Helen at UQAM in Montreal. She was forceful and dynamic in expressing why she was against capital punishment. At the end of the Conference I introduced myself as John Walsh, and she adds, Father John Walsh? I had no idea how she knew who I was. The story is that she attended Divine Word Centre in London Ontario as a student and completed her course the year before I began to teach there. Her words:" I have followed your career. " I was with CJAD at the time and asked her for an interview. She was rushed but accepted a half hour interview. There are 2 things I remember to this day. She began: " I lived in a suburb of New Orleans where life for me was very comfortable. I lived with other sisters and we followed an easy schedule of work, prayer, and meals together. Then I was transferred to the other side of New Orleans. My first night in my new home there was a knock at the door. I opened the door and a woman almost bowled me over. That's when I saw she was being chased by a man with a knife in his hand. That night my God changed. " Helen was also very happy to have lived in Canada and was extremely delighted to know that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had passed legislation abolishing capital punishment. In New Orleans her work with residents of the St. Thomas housing project made her realize that in order to live up to her faith and ideals, now with a very different idea of who God was, that she must shoulder the struggles of the poor as if they were her own. She began to correspond with Patrick Sonnier who was in death row. She becomes aware of the cruelty of capital punishment and the widespread abuse and injustice of the American judicial system. Witnessing Patrick's execution altered Prejean forever. She becomes a full-time anti-death penalty advocate and witnesses a 2nd execution, that of Robert Willie. Helen's work to abolish the death penalty remains incomplete until she realizes that in addition to ministering to the men on death row, she must also try to heal the families of their victims. I can only imagine the happiness she feels today when she reads what Pope Francis recently said about the death penalty. Francis declared that the death penalty is wrong in all cases, a definitive change in church teaching that is likely to challenge faithful Catholic politicians, judges and officials in the United States and other countries who have argued that their church was not entirely opposed to capital punishment. Francis said executions were unacceptable in all cases because they are an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. The Church will now work with determination for the abolition of capital punishment worldwide. It could set off a backlash among American Catholic traditionalists who have already cast Francis as being dangerously inclined to change or compromise church teaching. It could also complicate the lives of judges who are practicing Catholics. In 2015 he said that from the beginning of his ministry he had been led to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. The challenge remains today. (source: Opinion; Father John Walsh, The Suburban) AUSTRALIA: Senate hopeful calls for death penalty for murderers, rapists A controversial Senate hopeful has mounted an online campaign calling for the death penalty to be introduced for murderers and people who rape children. Steve Mav, who ran as a candidate for the Legislative Council seat of Prosser earlier this year, will stand as an independent Senate candidate at the looming federal election campaign, expected in 2019. Fairfax Media understands he has paid to boost his social media posts. On Facebook on Thursday, Mr Mav called for a popular vote on the death penalty, saying change was possible and that one just had to look at the postal survey on marriage equality for proof. Prominent LGBTI rights advocate Rodney Croome took umbrage with Mr Mav's comments. "If this raw, hate-platforming populism gathers pace don't blame marriage equality advocates," he said. (source: theadvocate.com.au) MALAYSIA: Women charged over Kim Jong Nam murder faces death penalty 2 women charged with murdering the half-brother of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un in Malaysia will be forced to defend themselves after a judge refused their acquittal. In 2017 Indonesia's Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnam's Doan Thi Huong, 29,
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August 15 SRI LANKA: Noose Looms Large For Drug Dealers Harshi Sudarshani, a Sunday school teacher in Negombo, and her younger brother have faced strained relationships with their friends since their father was arrested on a drug charge. The fisherman was arrested after packets of heroin were found on the boat in which he spends long periods at sea in search of tuna. Sudarshani, who joined religious leaders on an anti-drug protest with thousands of others in Negombo in February, denies her father's involvement in drug trafficking and blames the businessman owner of the boat. Her family's worries about the case increased with Sri Lanka's announcement in July that it was introducing capital punishment for persistent drug dealers. "My father is an innocent fisherman who used to go to church," says Sudarshani, who is about to move house due to the social stigma of the drug case. Sri Lanka has been on the map for years as a transit point for drugs, while concerns are growing about the use of illegal drugs, especially among children. The European Union opposes Sri Lanka's decision to introduce the death penalty for repeat drug dealers and warned that it could lose trade concessions that allow developing countries to pay fewer or no duties on their exports to the bloc. Vacancies for 2 hangmen have been advertised amid a public outcry demanding capital punishment for sexual assaults and other serious crimes apart from drug dealing. Civic rights activists oppose the government's decision to hang drug offenders. "There is no evidence in Sri Lanka or in any country that the death penalty reduces crime," says Ruki Fernando, a member of the watchdog Collective and an adviser to Inform Human Rights Documentation Center. "Crime can be best prevented or reduced through an economic-social-political system that ensures justice and all rights for all, coupled with an effective and independent criminal justice system and strict adherence to the rule of law. "In Sri Lanka, given the deficiencies of the criminal justice system including the lack of easily accessible, quality legal aid, many accused, particularly from poorer economic backgrounds, do not have access to fair trials, so the possibilities of wrongful convictions are high." Fernando says new evidence may emerge through new technology that shows wrongful convictions, but the death penalty is irreversible. In countries such as the United States, Canada and the U.K., people wrongly convicted have been released from death row or prison decades later, he says. In the U.S., for every 9 people who have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, 1 has been exonerated after being proved innocent later. The Anglican Church is opposed to the decision to hang drug dealers. "The church cannot in any way agree with the move," said Bishop Dhiloraj Canagasabey and Bishop Keerthi Fernando in a statement on July 18. "Sri Lanka halted judicial executions more than 40 years ago. Although several governments in the past have tried to reimpose the death penalty, wiser counsel has always prevailed." Capital punishment was abolished by former president S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1956 but it was reintroduced following his assassination in 1959. The country decided to reinstate the death penalty in 2004 for cases of rape and drug trafficking but halted its implementation when international human rights organizations opposed the decision. The death penalty was last enforced in 1976. Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission said capital punishment is a serious human rights violation. Amnesty International said the country would damage its reputation by resuming executions after more than 40 years. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo, last month clarified his earlier statement that was interpreted by some media as his support for the death penalty. He said the state should not bring back capital punishment but "criminal minds that sought to destroy social peace and harm hundreds" should not go unpunished. Pope Francis has declared the death penalty wrong in all cases because it is an attack on human dignity. Activist Fernando is clear. "The death penalty violates the right to life and is a cruel, inhuman and degrading form of punishment that must be rejected in any form, for any crime, in any circumstance," he told ucanews.com. (source: eurasiareview.com) * Sri Lanka's Catholic Bishops says no to death penalty In a statement with regard to the issue of the Death Penalty, the Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka today said that the Church teaches in the light of the Gospel that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. It said that the supreme Pontiff Holy Father Francis has approved a new revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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August 14 IRANexecution Execution of a Prisoner on Drug-Related Charges A prisoner was executed at Tabriz Central Prison on drug-related charges last Wednesday. According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, August 8, 1 prisoner was executed at Tabriz Central Prison. The prisoner, sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was identified as Eyvaz Bidast, son of Mohammad Taqi. The prisoner was transferred to the solitary confinement from ward 9 of Tabriz Central Prison. He was arrested on drug-related charges 12 years ago. There is no information regarding the exact amount and type of the drug the defendant was charged with and it is not clear why his case was not subject to the new drug law. This is the 3rd drug-related execution that has been reported by Iran Human Rights (IHR) since November 14, 2017, when the new drug law was enforced. The new drug law includes a mechanism that leads to a decrease in the number of death sentences and reduces the sentence of the death-row prisoners and those sentenced to life imprisonment. Another prisoner named Rasoul Mohtashami, who was sentenced to death on murder charges, was transferred to the solitary confinement along with Eyvaz Bidast. He returned to his cell by asking the plaintiffs for time. The execution of Eyvaz Bidast has not been announced by the state-run media so far. * Abolfazl Chazani's Execution Confirmed by the State-Run Media in Iran One of the Iranian state-run media published a report about Abolfazl Chazani Sharahi, a juvenile offender who was arrested at the age of 15 and executed at Qom Central Prison, and confirmed his execution after 43 days. Ghanoon newspaper published a report about Abolfazl Chazani Sharahi and confirmed his execution. IHR had previously reported the execution. Abolfazl, son of Asghar, was born on January 16, 1999, and was arrested and sentenced to death on the charge of murder on December 26, 2013. Abolfazl was examined by a forensic physician at the request of his public defender on July 20, 2014. According to the report, "The defendant, 15 years and 5 months old, committed murder in the winter last year and he is mentally mature and understands the nature of his action (murder)." According to the report, Abolfazl was nearly executed 4 times during the time he was in prison while he was only 15 the 1st time he went to the gallows. Mohammad, Abolfazl's brother, said, "He didn't know that after being transferred to the solitary confinement, he would be executed. He would fearlessly wear a smile like a child and say, "Everything's going to be fine; I won't be executed." Mohammad continued, "We see the victim's father (the plaintiff) every day. He feels terrible because he pulled the stool away in order to do the execution. Pulling the stool away and hanging someone is not something you can easily forget... My brother was only 14." Iran is one of the few countries that execute juvenile offenders, although, based on Article 91 of the new Islamic Penal Code, approved in 2013, judges can potentially deny issuing a death sentence for juveniles who do not understand the nature of their crime. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran has signed, clearly bans execution and life imprisonment of juveniles. * Iran Regime Threatens Execution for 67 Arrested on Financial Crimes Charges The Iranian Regime has arrested 67 people and threatened them with the death penalty as part of a supposed campaign against financial crime, as the Iranian economy plummets towards bankruptcy, but many have advised that this will not solve the crisis as the corruption in the Regime goes right to the top. On August 12, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said: "67 suspects have been arrested, some of whom were released on bail, and more than 100 people including government employees and officials, as well as private employees and others have been given travel bans." Human Rights Watch (HRW) responded to this with a statement, criticising Iran for its human rights abuse. The New York-based rights watchdog said: "Executions, an inhumane and inherently irreversible punishment, are never the answer, and in this case can only distract from other causes of this economic turmoil. Today, officials increasingly talk about the need to combat corruption at every level. Yet to do so requires an independent judiciary that ensures due process rights for all those accused." This announcement came just one day after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved a request from the judiciary to set up special courts for financial crimes. His statement, as quoted by Iranian media, advised that swift punishments should be imposed on those accused of economic corruption. Notably, the word used was accused and not convicted, which should tell you everything about the Iranian judicial system.
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August 13 IRAN: Iran Arrests 67 People In Drive Against Financial CrimThe decision comes amid a plunging national currency that has lost about 1/2 of its value in past weeks following a decision in May by U.S. President Donald Trump to leave the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose tough sanctions. Iran's judiciary says the authorities have arrested 67 people in a drive against financial crime as the country faces renewed U.S. sanctions and public outcry against widespread corruption. "67 suspects have been arrested, some of whom were released on bail, and more than 100 people including government employees and officials, as well as private employees and others have been given travel bans," judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said in remarks carried by state television on August 12. The remarks come as a day after the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, approved a request by the judiciary to set up special courts to deal with financial crimes. Iranian media quoted Khamenei as saying in a brief statement issued on August 11 that punishments for those accused of economic corruption should be "carried out swiftly and justly." New Islamic revolutionary courts will be directed to impose maximum sentences on those "disrupting and corrupting the economy," judiciary head Sadeq Amoli Larijani had proposed in a letter to Khamenei. The request by the judiciary said the courts should be eligible to try all suspects, including "official and military" people. The sentences can include the death penalty. The decision comes amid a plunging national currency that has lost about 1/2 of its value in past weeks following a decision in May by U.S. President Donald Trump to leave the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose tough sanctions. The Central Bank of Iran and the judiciary have blamed "enemies" for the fall of the currency. The judiciary said last month that 29 people have been detained for "disturbing" the nation's economy and its "money and currency systems." (source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty) MALDIVES: Capital punishment talk has deterred murders, pres claims The talk of enforcing the death penalty has put a stop to gruesome and premeditated murders in the Maldives, incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom claimed Monday. Since taking office in 2013, president Yameen has been pushing to enforce the death penalty after ending the de facto moratorium that has been in place in the country for over 6 decades. In June 2016, capital punishment regulations were amended to allow for hanging in addition to lethal injections as methods of execution. President Yameen has since been giving several dates to begin capital punishment, last of which was nearly a year ago. Despite failure to implement capital punishment, president Yameen speaking after inaugurating a water network in Thaa Atoll Thimarafushi island on Monday, insisted that premeditated and remorseless murders were unheard of in the country not so long ago. The president alleged that major crimes had spiraled out of control during the government of main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) adding that there had been around 30 recorded murders when he took office in 2013. However, major crimes including murders has since ended after his government announced plans to enforce the death penalty. "I promised to re-introduce capital punishment because my government cannot accept people killing each other. Since we made the announcement it has acted as a deterrent. The time of gruesome murders and assaults are in the past," he added. President Yameen's claims came after renowned local blogger Yameen Rasheed had been hacked to death in the stairwell of his own home in April last year, while another young man was stabbed to death inside a motorbike showroom last July. (source: avas.mv) BANGLADESH: Death penalty for 5 Patuakhali war criminals The International Crimes Tribunal has handed down the death penalty to 5 men from Patuakhali for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. A 3-member bench of the tribunal headed by Justice Md Shahinur Islam handed down the verdict on Monday, reports UNB. The convicts are: Ishak Shikdar, Solaiman Mridha, Abdus Sattar Peda, Abdul Goni Hawladar, and Awal alias Moulvi Abdul Awal. All of them hail from different villages in sadar upazila. The charges of murder and rape against the 5 war criminals were proved by the tribunal. Earlier on Sunday, the tribunal set Monday to deliver the verdict. On May 30, the tribunal kept the verdict pending after the concluding arguments from both sides of the case. Previously, on November 19, the tribunal took into cognizance the charges against them for their involvement in the crimes against humanity. On September 6, 2015, police arrested 5 accused war criminals, from different parts of sadar upazila
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August 12 BOTSWANA: The Paradox of Botswana's Death Penalty In Sub-Saharan Africa, a region with no shortage of development challenges, Botswana stands out for its strong economy, stable democracy, and commitment to the rule of law. But by 1 measure - its support for capital punishment - Botswana is frighteningly narrow-minded. If the country of my birth is to retain its reputation as one of Africa's most liberal states, it must confront its affinity for the gallows. According to Amnesty International, most of Africa is abandoning the death penalty. Today, just 10 African countries allow for capital punishment, and only a handful ever use it. Botswana - an affluent, landlocked, diamond-exporting state - is among the leading exceptions. After a lull in killings in 2017, Botswana has resumed executing convicted murderers; Joseph Tselayarona, 28, was executed in February, while Uyapo Poloko, 37, was put to death in May. Botswana's legal system - and the basis for capital punishment - is rooted in English and Roman-Dutch common law. According to the country's penal code, the preferred punishment for murder is death by hanging. And, while the constitution protects a citizen's "right to life," it makes an exception when the termination of a life is "in execution of the sentence of a court." But the country's relationship to the death penalty predates its current legal statutes. In the pre-colonial era, tribal chiefs - known as kgosi - imposed the penalty for crimes such as murder, sorcery, incest, and conspiracy. To this day, history is often invoked to defend the status quo. In a 2012 judgment, the Botswana Court of Appeals wrote that capital punishment has been imposed "since time immemorial," and "its abolition would be a departure from the accepted norm." After Tselayarona was executed, the government even tweeted a photo of then-President Ian Khama under a caption that read, "Death penalty serves nation well." (source: mareeg.com) INDIA: Act allowing death sentence for rape of children gets President's assentGang rape of a girl under 12 years of age will invite punishment of jail term for the rest of life or death, the Act says President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, that provides for stringent punishment, including death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years. The amendment replaces the criminal law amendment ordinance promulgated on April 21 after the rape and murder of a minor girl in Kathua and another woman in Unnao. "This Act may be called the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018. It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 21st day of April, 2018," a gazette notification said. The Act will further amend the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The President's assent, given on Saturday, came after Parliament approved the amendments to the law last week. The Home Ministry drafted Criminal Law (Amendment) Act stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 16 and 12 years. Death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years. The minimum punishment in case of rape of women has been increased from rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment. According to the new law, in case of rape of a girl under 16 years, the minimum punishment has been increased from 10 years to 20 years, extendable to imprisonment for rest of life, which means jail term till the convicts "natural life". The punishment for gang rape of a girl below 16 years will invariably be imprisonment for the rest of life of the convict. Stringent punishment for rape of a girl under 12 years has been provided with the minimum jail term being 20 years which may go up to life in prison or death sentence. Gang rape of a girl under 12 years of age will invite punishment of jail term for the rest of life or death, the Act says. The measure also provides for speedy investigations and trial. It has prescribed the time limit for investigation of all cases of rape, saying it has to be mandatorily completed within two months. The deadline for the completion of trial in all rape cases will be 2 months. A 6-month time limit for the disposal of appeals in rape cases has also been prescribed. There will also be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gang rape of a girl under 16 years. (soruce: Press Trust of India) SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka govt approves capital punishment for drug offences The Sri Lankan Cabinet has unanimously approved a move to bring back for, a senior minister has said. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Minister of the Buddhist Order said that President had recently stated that he was under pressure to re-introduce
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August 11 SAUDI ARABIA: EYE FOR AN EYE Paralysis, eye gouging and crucifixion -- the Medieval and grotesque punishments faced by criminals in Saudi Arabia; Saudi Arabia continues use barbaric methods of execution claiming they are justified by the Quran and its traditions Saudi Arabia has some of the most barbaric and bizarre punishments in the world. Public beheadings, amputations, eye for an eye retribution and flogging all form part of the justice system. As The Sun reported this week, a murderer was crucified after being found guilty of repeatedly stabbing a woman, his body hung on a cross after execution. Crown Prince Salman wants to make the desert kingdom a tech savvy 21st century nation and has introduced liberal reforms. Yet for all his ambitions, the country still has the trappings of one caught in a altogether different era, particularly when it comes to its justice system. Saudi Arabia retains the death penalty for a large number of offences including drug trafficking and "sorcery" as well as murder. The majority of death sentences are carried out in public by beheading, drawing comparisons with the shocking brutality of the Islamic State. The system is based on Shariah law, which the Saudis say is rooted in Islamic tradition and the Quran. While they insist trials are conducted to the strictest standards of fairness, evidence has emerged from the country to suggest the opposite. Trials are reported to have lasted a day and confessions extracted under torture. The country has no written penal code and no code of criminal procedure and judicial procedure. That allows courts wide powers to determine what constitutes a criminal offence and what sentences crimes deserve. The only means of appeal is directly to the King, who decides whether the condemned lives or dies. The list of punishments makes for grim reading. Beheading Last year the kingdom year carried out 146 executions, the 3rd highest rate in the world behind China and Iran, according to Amnesty International. In the first 4 months of this year alone it has carried out 86 beheadings, 1/2 of them for non-violent crimes such as drugs offences. There has been a surge in executions since last month, with at least 27 people executed in July alone, say Amnesty International. Beheading remains the most common form of execution and the sentence traditionally carried out in a public square on a Friday after prayers. Deera Square in the centre of the capital Riyadh is known locally as "Chop Chop Square". The work maybe grim but country's chief executioner appeared to take pride in his work. After visiting the victim's family to see if they want to forgive the prisoner, they are then taken for beheading. "When they get to the execution square, their strength drains away," the BBC reported Muhammad Saad al-Beshi as saying. "Then I read the execution order, and at a signal I cut the prisoner's head off.". A recent surge in rate of executions led to ads place for an 8 executioners on the civil service jobs website. In Saudi Arabia, the practice of "crucifixion" refers to the court-ordered public display of the body after execution, along with the separated head if beheaded. In one case pictures on social media appearing to show 5 decapitated bodies hanging from a horizontal pole with their heads wrapped in bags. The beheading and "crucifixion" took place in front of the University of Jizan where students were taking exams takes place in a public square to act as a deterrent. Paralysis The ability of courts to decide for themselves sentences that fit the crime has led to sentences of "qisas" or retribution. The most high profile example was that of Ali al-Khawahir, who was 14 when stabbed a friend in the neck, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. 10 years later was sentenced to be paralysed unless he paid a million Saudi riyals to the victim. At the time Amnesty International said the sentence was "utterly shocking" even for Saudi Arabia. In such cases, the victim can demand the punishment be carried out, request financial compensation or grant a conditional or unconditional pardon. Stoning Stoning remains a punishment for adultery for women in Saudi Arabia. According to 1 witness, the accused are put into holes and then have rocks tipped on them from a truck. In 2015 a married 45-year-old woman, originally from Sri Lanka, who was working as a maid in Riyadh, was sentenced to death by stoning. Her partner, who was single and also from Sri Lanka, was given a punishment of 100 lashes after being found guilty of the same offence. Eye Gouging Abd ul-Latif Noushad, an Indian citizen, was sentenced to have his right eye gouged out in retribution for his role in a brawl in which a Saudi citizen was injured. He worked at a petrol station and got into an altercation about a jump lead a customer wanted a refund for and in
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August 10 BOTSWANA: The Paradox of Botswana's Death Penalty In the global effort to end capital punishment, Amnesty International calls Sub-Saharan Africa a "beacon of hope." But one country that typically ranks near the top of regional governance indexes continues to defend the practice. In Sub-Saharan Africa, a region with no shortage of development challenges, Botswana stands out for its strong economy, stable democracy, and commitment to the rule of law. But by one measure - its support for capital punishment - Botswana is frighteningly narrow-minded. If the country of my birth is to retain its reputation as one of Africa's most liberal states, it must confront its affinity for the gallows. According to Amnesty International, most of Africa is abandoning the death penalty. Today, just 10 African countries allow for capital punishment, and only a handful ever use it. Botswana - an affluent, landlocked, diamond-exporting state - is among the leading exceptions. After a lull in killings in 2017, Botswana has resumed executing convicted murderers; Joseph Tselayarona, 28, was executed in February, while Uyapo Poloko, 37, was put to death in May. Botswana's legal system - and the basis for capital punishment - is rooted in English and Roman-Dutch common law. According to the country's penal code, the preferred punishment for murder is death by hanging. And, while the constitution protects a citizen's "right to life," it makes an exception when the termination of a life is "in execution of the sentence of a court." But the country's relationship to the death penalty predates its current legal statutes. In the pre-colonial era, tribal chiefs - known as kgosi - imposed the penalty for crimes such as murder, sorcery, incest, and conspiracy. To this day, history is often invoked to defend the status quo. In a 2012 judgment, the Botswana Court of Appeals wrote that capital punishment has been imposed "since time immemorial," and "its abolition would be a departure from the accepted norm." After Tselayarona was executed, the government even tweeted a photo of then-President Ian Khama under a caption that read, "Death penalty serves nation well." To be sure, the number of executions in Botswana pales in comparison to the world's leaders. Of the 993 executions recorded by Amnesty International last year, 84% were carried out by just 4 countries - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Pakistan. The total does not include China, believed to be the world's largest executioner, because death-penalty data there are classified as a state secret. By contrast, Botswana has executed roughly 50 people since independence in 1966. And yet the very existence of capital punishment will remain a stain on the country until it is abolished. According to Amnesty International, 142 countries have abolished the death penalty. In its most recent death-penalty survey, the group pointed to Sub-Saharan Africa as a "beacon of hope" in the global effort to eradicate the practice. Last year, Kenya took a positive step by ending mandatory imposition of the death penalty for murder. And Guinea became the 20th country in the region to abolish capital punishment for all crimes. When will Botswana follow suit? Botswana has been in the vanguard on human-rights issues before. For example, after South Africa's threat to withdraw from the International Criminal Court in October 2016, Botswana's leaders defended the ICC and reaffirmed their commitment to international law. Then, in February 2018, Khama broke the silence among African leaders and called for Joseph Kabila, the autocratic president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to "relinquish power." The same month, the Botswana government criticized the UN Security Council for its handling of the crisis in Syria. Taking a progressive stance on the death penalty would seem a natural step in the evolution of Botswana's liberal agenda. But the government has only dug in deeper, and contradictory international laws mean that Botswana is under no great pressure to change course. While both the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights contain de facto prohibitions on capital punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) recognizes a state's authority to retain the practice. An "optional" auxiliary amendment to the ICCPR, adopted in 1989, sought to close this loophole, but Botswana did not sign it. Public opinion also favors preserving the status quo. According to an online survey conducted by the national newspaper Mmegi, support for capital punishment remains high among voters, which explains why the issue has never gained traction in Parliament. And yet there is simply no evidence to support the authorities' argument that the death penalty lowers rates of violent crime. Convincing the public of this will require visionary leadership, not to
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August 9 JAPAN: The Aum Shinrikyo Executions and a Society in DenialOn July 6, former Aum Shinrikyo cult leader Asahara Shoko (Matsumoto Chizuo) was put to death, along with 6 of his senior followers. Executions of the remaining 6 death row prisoners in the case followed on July 26. Asahara never spoke during his trial, and now that he is dead the possibility of ever learning what motivated the cult's attack on the Tokyo subway has gone with him. On the morning of July 6, Aum Shinrikyo cult leader Asahara Shoko (originally named Matsumoto Chizuo), who was sentenced to death for his part in a series of deadly crimes including the sarin attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1995, finally went to the gallows. 6 other senior figures in the cult were executed the same day. The Ministry of Justice does not normally go out of its way to disclose details of executions, but on this day the ministry released the names of the executed prisoners to the press almost in real time. It was an exceptional case. Why did the ministry depart from its usual modus operandi and allow the executions to become a public drama in this way? One popular explanation is that the ministry was acting on instructions from the prime minister's office. Whether this theory is true or not, I can't say. But if the theory is correct, as many people in the media insist, then the implications are clear. The prime minister or those around him must have decided that giving the go-ahead for a mass execution of those responsible for the Aum attack would help to bolster the prime minister's wilting public support. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the real reason why the government cooperated with the media to ensure maximum coverage. No group in postwar Japanese history has been so reviled as the Aum Shinrikyo cult. The group represents Japan's first true "public enemy." As the cult's leader and guru, Asahara was so despised that even people normally in favor of abolishing the death penalty made an exception in his case. Asahara was widely seen as a "singularity"- an embodiment of evil so bereft of any normal sense of humanity that putting him to death was the only sensible solution. And then, on July 26, just as I was finishing an earlier version of this article about the executions, another 6 members of the cult went to their deaths. Interviews with the Condemned Of the 12 cult members who were recently executed, I conducted interviews with 6 during the course of their incarceration: Niimi Tomomitsu, Hayakawa Kiyohide, and Nakagawa Tomomasa (who were executed along with Asahara on July 6), as well as Hayashi Yasuo, Okazaki Kazuaki, and Hirose Ken'ichi, whose death sentences were carried out on July 26. The media often depicted Niimi as the most vicious of the cultists, but whenever I met him he always bowed politely and never spoke badly of anyone. Every now and then, the corners of his mouth would curl into an attractive smile. Hayakawa, the oldest of the former Aum believers on death row, had a real sweet tooth. I would always bring him sweets and candies when I went to interview him, and he used to jokingly blame me for making him fat: "Thanks to you, Mori, I've really put on weight," he once wrote in a letter to me. As Asahara's personal doctor, Nakagawa probably spent more time at the guru's side than anyone else. He was a painstaking, precise man - as well as being the personification of gentleness and kindness. I took my wife with me to visit him once, because I genuinely thought he was someone she should meet. Nakagawa beamed with happiness when I introduced my wife and kept bowing politely from the other side of the thick acrylic panels that separated us. The media used to call Hayashi a "killing machine." Perhaps because we were roughly the same age, we soon fell into talking to each other casually, without the distance of formal language. I once visited him in prison with his mother. She and I sat together during the visit, and when his mother started to tear up, Hayashi tried desperately to console her. Okazaki was very much an ordinary, down-to-earth character. He used to send me stacks of sumie ink wash paintings he had done in prison. Hirose spent his time in detention making mathematics reference books for schoolchildren. He was a serious, sober type of person with little time for joking around. He told me that during the attack on the subway, he kept constantly reminding himself that what he and his fellow believers were doing was for the sake of the salvation of the world. But now, none of these people are alive. They have vanished from the world. They all told me separately they thought they deserved to die for the crime they had committed. Sometimes they fought back tears when they spoke of what they had done. Talking to them made it harder for me to know what to feel about the crime and those who had been responsible for it. Individually,
