[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Feb. 17



IRAN:

Death sentence proceeds for software designer


The death sentence for Saeed Malekpour has been forwarded to the enforcement 
branch of the Iranian judiciary.

The Human Rights House of Iran (RAHANA) reports that Malekpour, a software 
designer charged with creating indecent and pornographic websites, is now in 
imminent danger of being hanged. His lawyers have reported that his sentence 
has been delivered for execution.

In June, 2011, Malekpour’s death sentence was annulled after his lawyer 
disputed the charges against him and criticized the unjust sentencing. The 
Supreme Court acknowledged the discrepancies in the case and called for further 
investigation.

According to RAHANA, "In an illegal proceeding, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary 
Court, with no warning and without adhering to the Supreme Court’s 
recommendations, reinstated the death sentence."

Malekpour, 35, is a resident of Canada and was arrested in Iran three years ago 
when he had travelled there on a visit.

After his arrest, state television aired his alleged confessions to the crimes; 
however, Malekpour has since recanted, saying the confessions were extracted 
during torture and physical abuse.

(source: Radio Zamaneh)





SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES:

Move afoot to save Filipino on death row


A Filipino worker on death row in Dammam for killing a Saudi in 2000 could be 
released after a group led by former Philippine Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor 
lobbying for his release is due to come to the Kingdom next month to formally 
hand over part of an agreed sum of blood money to the victims' family.

The family of Rodelio “Don Don” Lanuza hired New York-based lawyer Loida Lewis 
as part of their untiring efforts to save him from execution. Currently, he's 
detained at the Dammam Central Jail.

The victim’s family granted a pardon to Lanuza in February 2011 in exchange for 
blood money which, according to the Daily Inquirer, amounts to SR3 million.

“Ambassador Villamor confirmed to me last Friday by telephone that he was in 
the final stages of forming a small delegation to come to Saudi Arabia to 
settle the blood money payment,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East 
regional coordinator, told Arab News on Wednesday.

Monterona said Villamor was hoping to sign a blood-money agreement with the 
victim’s family and that he was invited as part of the delegation.

Monterona had earlier suggested Villamor be used by the Philippines’ government 
to help in dealing with cases of Filipinos on death row in Saudi Arabia, 
particularly in negotiating with victims’ families.

“Villamor was instrumental in saving Sarah Dematera from execution for killing 
her employer in 1992. She was spared execution when the aggrieved family showed 
mercy to her in exchange for blood money amounting to SR2.5 million,” Monterona 
said.

In 2010, Villamor was also involved in rescuing Idan Tejano and Marjanna 
Sakilan who were also convicted of killing their pregnant employer on May 21, 
2001. Tejano is from Batangas province, south of Manila, and Sakilan from Jolo, 
Sulu, in southern Philippines.

Tejano and Sakilan were sentenced by the Jeddah Shariah court to death in May 
2004 after they were convicted of robbing their employer and killing her.

But their sentence was suspended because a daughter of the victim was still a 
minor. Under Saudi law, the family members of the victim must have a say in 
determining the nature of the punishment and this can be done only when they 
are adult (18 and above).

In the meantime, they were put in prison and actually served eight years and 
seven months of their 12-year sentence by the time the Saudi Arabian Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) informed Villamor, who was then Philippine ambassador 
to Saudi Arabia, of their release. Aside from imprisonment, they also received 
1,200 lashes.

(source: Arab News)