[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 8



ALGERIA:

The head of the human right advisory commission Farouk Ksentin:----"Death
penalty implemented in Algeria behind Britains reluctance to extradite
Khelifa"


The death penalty that still into force in the Algerian Law has tarnished
the reputation of Algeria, mostly, the head of the human right advisory
commission said yesterday in a radio programme. Farouk Ksentini further
added that British Authorities avoid handing over Abdelmoumene Khelifa to
Algeria for fearing being subject to death penalty, despite Britain is
sure that such a penalty is not, in practice, implemented in Algeria. He
further called on President Bouteflika abolishing this penalty.
Furthermore, Ksentini assumed his opinion about death penalty, for which
men of religion have already criticised him. In this context, he said: "I
respect the opinion of clergies, while calling them, in turn, to respect
his opinion of abolishing death penalty."

On another side, the head of human rights advisory commission has raised
the issue of torture in prisons. He denied, however, the existence of any
torture case. Ksentini seemed as if riposting to the Algerian Human Right
League which alleged that prisoners in El Harrach penitentiary had been
subject to torture, months ago.

Moreover, he admitted that the issue of Algerian prisoners in Libya is
pending, pointing out that Libyan Authorities have likely backed off on
the implementation of measures of releasing them. Ksentini said the Libyan
Leader Muammar Gaddafi has likely decided transferring the Algerian
prisoners, rather than extraditing them.

(source: El Khabar)