[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Feb. 13



IRAN:

Iran scraps stoning, capital punishment for minors


The death penalty for minors and death by stoning have been omitted from the 
Islamic Republic’s penal code after years of review and reform of the penal 
laws.

Before the recent changes, adultery was punishable by being stoned to death, 
but in the new penal code, stoning has been replaced by hanging.

According to the new code, capital punishment will not be applied to convicts 
under the age of 18 or those who have not reached “intellectual growth.”

The revised penal code has been approved by the Guardian Council, which is 
necessary to make the changes official.

Three years ago, Iranian judiciary officials issued a directive banning the 
execution of juvenile offenders, but mere directives do not carry enough weight 
to guarantee compliance in every case.

Human rights activists in Iran have continuously protested against the 
execution of minors and stoning.

Minors convicted of murder were usually sentenced to death by petition of the 
victim’s family, and the sentence was suspended until the convict reached the 
age of 18.MO< The execution of minors is still carried out in Saudi Arabia, 
Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen.

The United States banned the execution of minors only in 2005, and 4 juvenile 
offenders were executed there between 2000 and 2004.

Iran has signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which prohibit the death 
penalty for minors.

(source: Radio Zamaneh)

******************

Iran moves to ban stoning ---- Iran has issued major reforms to its penal code 
that ban death by stoning and forbid the execution of minors.


Local Iranian media reports that the changes were approved by the guardian 
council, a body tasked with ensuring that the country's judicial laws do not 
contravene Islamic law.

The legislation now requires only the signature of the president to be 
enshrined into law.

Prior to the reforms, Iran has the record for executing more juveniles than any 
other country in the world. A report published human rights group Human Rights 
Watch earlier this year stated that more than a hundred children are currently 
on death row. Most are not executed until they turn 18.

Stoning is usually reserved for men and women found guilty of adultery. At 
least 99 people have been stoned to death in Iran since 1980.

Drewery Dyke, an expert on Iran at Amnesty International, warns that due to 
quirks of the Iranian legal system, the reforms are not as clear cut as they 
appear.

"Execution is a specific legal concept in Iran. Punishment for murder in Iran 
under Islamic law is termed 'retribution of the soul'," Mr Dyke explains, 
adding that children may still be killed if charged with murder.

"Similarly with stoning, they have removed the punishment of stoning for 
adultery but we still don't know what manner of punishment will be proscribed 
in the new law. There is more to his than meets the eye – the reforms do allow 
for a backdoor application of stoning."

Execution sentences are routinely meted out for crimes of murder, 
homosexuality, adultery, drug smuggling, espionage and any perceived disruption 
to the economic and civil wellbeing of the country.

Amnesty International warned in December of a "killing spree of staggering 
proportions" being carried out in Iran, reporting that more than 600 people had 
been executed by the state from the beginning of 2011 until the end of 
November. At least 3 were children.

In September, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, expressed his grave 
concern with the Islamic Republic's human rights record. He was, "deeply 
troubled by reports of increased numbers of executions, amputations, arbitrary 
arrest and detention, unfair trials torture and ill-treatment."

News that 45-year-old Saineh Mohammadi Shtiani had been sentenced to death by 
stoning having been found guilty of murder and adultery caused a storm of 
international controversy. As a result of international pressure, her sentence 
was 'suspended' in January last year. She now faces death by hanging.

Iran has previously tried to improve its poor human rights record. Ten years 
ago, and advisory was issued to Iran's judiciary urging judges to avoid 
sentencing death by stoning in preference of hanging.

(source: The Telegraph)






INDONESIA:

Terrorist Suspect Facing Death Penalty


The mastermind behind the 1st bombing in Bali, Umar Patek, is facing death 
penalty under multiple terrorism charges. He is also accused of being involved 
in other terrorist attacks.

The West Jakarta District Court on Monday, Feb 13, found Umar Patek along with 
Herry Kuncoro and Hasan Nur made an entrance to Indonesia by carrying firearms 
and explosives for terrorist purposes.

“They made their way to Indonesia to deliver, control, carry, possess, and use 
firearms or ammunitions or dangerous explosives for terrorist purposes,” said a 
prosecutor, Bambang.

Umar Patek then left the country after being involved in Bali bombing on Oct 
12, 2002. 192 people were killed in the attacks. The bombing also destroyed 
Paddy’s Club, Sari Club as well as other 422 buildings and public facilities.

Moreover, Umar Patek is also accused of forging documents as he had given false 
information on his passport in East Jakarta’s Immigration Office along with his 
wife, Ruqayyah binti Husen Luceno.

The prosecutor also mentioned that Umar Patek was also involved in a series of 
terrorist attacks which had targeted a number of churches, such as: Katedral; 
Kanisius; Oikumene; Santo Yosep; Koinonia; and Anglikan.

“He is facing death penalty,” said prosecutor, Iwan Setiawan.

“We will file an objection, Your Honor,” said Umar Patek through his Defense 
Attorney, Asrudin Anjani.

The Chief of Justice of West Jakarta District Court, Lexsy Mamoto, will resume 
the trial on Feb 20, 2012.

(soruce: Viva News)






SAUDI ARABIA:

Saudi newspaper columnist could face death penalty after he insulted Prophet 
Muhammad on Twitter


A newspaper columnist could be the 1st person to face the death penalty for 
remarks he made on Twitter after he was arrested for allegedly insulting the 
Prophet Muhammad.

Writer Hamza Kashgari fled his native Saudi Arabia for Malaysia after some 
Islamic clerics called for him to be put to death for his tweet.

But the 23-year-old was arrested as soon as he arrived in the Malaysian capital 
Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and was deported back to Saudi Arabia yesterday 
despite protests from human rights groups.

Mr Kashgari's controversial tweet caused uproar with more than 30,000 responses 
and a number of death threats.

Insulting the prophet is considered blasphemy in Islam and is punishable by 
death in Saudi Arabia. It is not a capital offence in Malaysia.

More than 13,000 people joined a Facebook page called, 'The Saudi People Demand 
the Execution of Hamza Kashgari'.

The posting on the prophet's birthday revealed the writer's contradictory views 
about his faith.

He apologised and deleted the message, but left the country fearing his life 
was still in danger.

Mr Kashgari said in an interview that he was being made a 'scapecoat for a 
larger conflict' over his comments.

'I view my actions as part of a process towards freedom. I was demanding my 
right to practice the most basic human rights – the freedom of expression and 
thought – so nothing was done in vain,' he added.

The arrest raised questions about Interpol's involvement. The Malaysian 
authorities said Mr Kashgari was detained at the airport on his arrival in the 
country following a request by the international police cooperation agency on 
behalf of Saudi Arabia.

Jago Russell, chief executive of the British charity Fair Trials International, 
said yesterday that Interpol should not have been involved in the case, which 
is 'clearly of a religious nature.'

(source: Daily Mail)