[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 2


PAKISTAN:

Pakistan court orders blasphemy law reforms


The effectiveness of a Supreme Court of Pakistan ruling that blasphemy laws be 
reformed to discourage false allegations hinges on the government's response to 
the order, a leader of the International Christian Concern watchdog group told 
Baptist Press.

The 3-judge Pakistani bench called for reforms when it upheld the death penalty 
imposed upon Malik Mohammad Mumtaz Qadri for assassinating in 2011 Punjab Gov. 
Salman Taseer based on hearsay that Taseer had committed blasphemy.

"In the absence of adequate safeguards against the abuse of the blasphemy law, 
people falsely accused of the offense suffer irrevocably," the judgment written 
Oct. 27 reads, but confirms that the reforms must still protect blasphemy laws.

The ruling "ought to be understood as a call for introducing adequate 
safeguards against malicious application or use of [the blasphemy law] by 
motivated persons," the judges wrote. "If our religion of Islam comes down 
heavily upon commission of blasphemy then Islam is also very tough against 
those who level false allegations of a crime."

William Stark, International Christian Concern (ICC) regional manager for South 
Asia, said the judgment has only opened a door to reforms that "Pakistan as a 
society must take the steps to walk through."

The government must enact legislation to "combat mob violence and 
extra-judicial killings," "create harsh penalties for individuals who file 
false accusations of blasphemy," and protect mentally ill defendants who may 
not have had a "deliberate intention to blaspheme," Stark told BP.

Pakistan remains a dangerous country for Christians. The United States 
Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its 2015 annual report 
that the Pakistani government "failed to protect citizens, minority and 
majority alike, from sectarian and religiously-motivated violence, and 
Pakistani authorities have not consistently brought perpetrators to justice or 
taken action against societal actors who incite violence."

For instance, on Oct. 14, a Pakistani court acquitted two Muslim men accused of 
kidnapping two Christian sisters from their village of Jaranwala, Faisalabad, 
and repeatedly raping them throughout the night, Morning Star News reported. 
The girls had identified the assailants as Muhammad Shahbaz and Muhammad Azeem, 
who lived in the same village.

Wilson Chowdhry, head of the British Pakistani Christian Association, told 
Morning Star News the 2014 case against the men was allegedly lost due to a key 
witness who changed his testimony in the face of threats and a bribe.

The family "didn't get justice," the girls' father told Morning Star News. "The 
lawyer didn't fight the case very well and with commitment. ... We face serious 
life threats from the culprits now, as they are being released from jail. I 
will appeal to the High Court, because I want justice for my daughters."

In another case concerning the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, Christian 
mother Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, is awaiting a trial date 
before the Pakistan Supreme Court in the appeal of her death sentence for 
blasphemy. Arrested in June 2009 after Muslim coworkers in a berry field beat 
her when she refused to convert to Islam following a quarrel, Bibi received her 
death sentence in November 2010. The Lahore High Court on Oct. 16, 2014 upheld 
the death sentence for the mother of 2 children and stepmother to 3 others.

The High Court's ruling to reform blasphemy laws is an important move in 
protecting citizens from violent religious extremism, Peter Jacob, executive 
director for the Center for Social Justice, told ICC.

"Through this judgment, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa has ostensibly turned the tide 
on [the] oppressive environment against the discourse around rights and 
democratic values in this country," Jacob said. "Yet, minorities and [liberals] 
in Pakistan, who have often been the targets of the laws misuse, might have to 
wait for complete success until the Parliament overcomes [its] lethargy and 
indecision."

Jacob cited a 2014 hallmark decision by Chief Justice Tassaduq Jillani, now 
retired, that was widely viewed as having potential to protect citizens from 
violent extremism. But many of the mandates Jillani issued after an attack that 
killed 81 Christians at a church in Peshawar have either not been implemented 
or have been outsourced to other agencies, ICC said.

Specifically, the Pakistan federal government has made no moves to institute a 
task force to develop a strategy of religious tolerance, and has not appointed 
a special police force to protect places of worship for minorities, Stark told 
BP.

"When I was in Pakistan," Stark said, "many of the church leaders I met with 
said that police officials told them that they needed to provide their own 
private form of security in order to meet this recommendation instead of a 
special police force being created."

No criminal cases have been brought against those who desecrate places of 
worship of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan as Jillani 
ordered, Stark said.

"I haven't heard of any of these types of cases being brought," Stark told BP, 
"despite multiple incidents of religious minorities' places of worship being 
desecrated."

The Pakistani federal government outsourced some of Jillani's mandates to 
provincial governments in a move called a "National Action Plan." The 
provincial governments are charged with implementing "appropriate curricula at 
school and college levels to promote a culture of religious and social 
tolerance," and taking steps "to ensure that hate speeches in social media are 
discouraged and the delinquents brought to justice under the law," but Stark 
said none of these changes has been made.

The federal government has at least 1 of Jillani's mandates, Stark said. 
Specifically, the government has created a National Council for Minorities' 
Rights, although Stark said the council's authority and responsibilities have 
not been determined. Also in line with Jillani's ruling, the Supreme Court has 
created a separate file to be placed before a three-member Bench to ensure that 
the judgment is followed, Stark said.

The ICC, formed in 1995, describes itself as a group to help the worldwide 
persecuted Christian church through assistance, awareness and advocacy.

(source: Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' general assignment writer/editor)






BAHRAIN:

Bahrainis Stage Massive Anti-Saudi Rallies in Solidarity with Jailed Cleric


Bahraini people in different parts of the country poured into streets to voice 
their outrage over the Saudi regime's decision to execute prominent Shiite 
cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr and call for his immediate release.

Large groups of people attended the demonstrations in northern towns of A'ali, 
Ma'ameer and Bilad al-Qadeem, the hometown of Bahraini opposition leader Sheikh 
Ali Salman on the outskirts of the capital, Manama, according to the official 
website of Bahrain's February 14 Youth Coalition, a major opposition group.

They chanted anti-Saudi slogans and called for the immediate release of sheikh 
Nimr, who has been sentenced to death on political grounds.

Mohamed al-Nimr, the cleric's brother, told Tasnim on October 25 that the death 
sentence has been referred to King Salman's office for a final decision.

Saudi Arabia's criminal court had earlier referred Sheikh Nimr's case to an 
appeals court, where the verdict was upheld in early March.

The Bahraini protesters also condemned the Manama regime for its recent moves 
against the mourning ceremonies to mark the martyrdom anniversary of the 
grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS).

Bahrain, a staunch ally of the United States in the Persian Gulf region, has 
been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty 
since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to 
crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and 
arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.

Troops from Saudi Arabia have been also deployed to Bahrain to assist in its 
crackdown on the peaceful protesters.

(source: Tasnim News Agency)






BANGLADESH:

40 Years into Jail Killing ---- Death convicts stay safe abroad


Even though 40 years have passed since the killing of 4 national leaders at 
Dhaka Central Jail, none of the convicted killers has been brought to book.

All the convicts are in hiding, in the USA, Canada and some other countries. 
And, there is no positive message from the government about bringing them back 
to the country.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat in August this year 
officially informed Dhaka that fugitive Rashed Chowdhury was staying in the US 
after securing political asylum there.

A government taskforce, working since 2010 to locate and bring back the 
absconding killers, came to know that another convicted killer Noor Chowdhury 
is now in Canada, but staying there illegally.

The country has declined to deport him as its policy does not approve sending 
back a person where there is a provision of death sentence. Canada, however, 
reportedly did not accept Noor's application for political asylum.

The taskforce has no confirmation about the location of the other fugitives, as 
they are always on the move, a taskforce member told this correspondent, 
requesting anonymity.

Amid such a situation, the nation observes the 40th anniversary of the Jail 
Killing Day today to mourn the four liberation movement heroes -- Syed Nazrul 
Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, AHM Quamruzzaman and Captain M Mansur Ali.

The 4 leaders were shot dead following repeated bayonet charges at the jail on 
this day in 1975.

They were sent to jail soon after the August 15, 1975, bloodbath that claimed 
the lives of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members.

The 4 leaders had led the country's Liberation War while Bangabandhu was 
detained by the Pakistan army.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, who is a member of the taskforce, told The 
Daily Star on November 1 that the government has taken necessary steps to bring 
the killers back to the country.

But, unfortunately, the governments of the countries, where the killers are 
hiding, are not cooperating, he said.

Contacted, Law Minister Anisul Huq, who heads the taskforce, repeated his 
previous statement that the government was trying its best to bring back the 
fugitive killers through diplomatic channels.

He, however, did not elaborate on this saying if he disclosed the strategy, the 
convicted killers cannot be brought back.

The Supreme Court on April 30, 2013, upheld the death penalty of three former 
army personnel and life term imprisonment of 8 others for killing the 4 
national leaders.

The 3 convicts, who were awarded death penalty, are Risalder (retd) 
Muslemuddin, Dafadar (dismissed) Marfat Ali Shah and Dafadar (dismissed) Abdul 
Hashem Mridha.

The 8 convicts, who were handed down life term imprisonment, are Lt Col 
(dismissed) Khondaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haq Dalim, Lt 
Col (retd) SHMB Noor Chowdhury, Lt Col (retd) AM Rashed Chowdhury, Maj 
(relieved) Ahmed Shariful Hossain, Capt (retd) Abdul Majed, Capt (relieved) 
Kismat Hasem and Capt (relieved) Nazmul Hossain.

The apex court affirmed the judgment of a Dhaka court which in 2004 convicted 
and sentenced Muslemuddin, Marfat Ali Shah and Abdul Hashem Mridha to death and 
handed down life term imprisonment to 12 others, including the 8.

4 others -- Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan 
Shahriar Rashid Khan, Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda and Maj (retd) AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed 
-- were executed in the Bangabandhu assassination case.

In 2011, the SC exempted Farooq, Shahriar, Mohiuddin and Bazlul Huda from the 
jail killing case as they were already executed.

In August 2008, the High Court upheld the capital punishment of Muslemuddin and 
acquitted Marfat and Hashem. It also acquitted Farooq, Shahriar, Mohiuddin and 
Bazlul Huda.

The HC did not say anything about the 8 others who got life term imprisonment 
from the SC on April 30, 2013.

(source: The Daily Star)



THAILAND:

Thai woman killed daughter-in-law and then faked her own death


She didn't approve of her son's fiancee.

So what did Juree Janngam do?

The 73-year-old hired hitmen to kill her son's fiancee just 16 days before the 
wedding was to take place.

Juree was found guilty of murder, a crime which carries the death penalty.

However, soon after she was let out on bail, her daughter claimed she died and 
was cremated, producing a death certificate to prove her death.

But Bangkok police have now said that they are re-opening the case as Juree had 
been spotted in Hat Yai, a city in Southern Thailand near the Malaysian border, 
reported the Bangkok Post.

The startling twist in a case which has gripped the Thai capital since 8 years 
ago has now resurfaced.

Juree, a Songkhla resident, was arrested for hiring gunman Narin Janchay, 36, 
to kill pharmacist Riwprae Chotikarn, on Dec 13, 2007, just 2 weeks before Ms 
Riwprae was to wed Juree's son, Mr Wikrom Janngam.

According to the victim's mother, Ms Ruedeemat Singmanee, Juree had opposed of 
the marriage, saying that Ms Riwprae was from a poor family and only wanted to 
marry her son for the family wealth.

"Before my daughter died, she said Juree and her daughter stalked and verbally 
abused her constantly, especially as the wedding day approached," Ms Ruedeemat 
said.

"Juree even said the wedding must be cancelled or else a funeral will be held 
instead."

Narin and Juree were both given the death sentence.

However, she appealed against the conviction and was granted bail of 5 million 
baht (S$197,000).

On Feb 27, 2014, Juree's daughter, Ms Rasamee Janngam, claimed that her mother 
had collapsed and died after returning from the People's Democratic Reform 
Committee (PDRC) rally in Bangkok 3 days earlier.

She later claimed that Juree's body was cremated on Feb 28 and submitted a 
death certificate to refund the bail.

But recently, witnesses had seen Juree at the Hat Yai market, shopping for 
groceries.

The Supreme Court ordered a probe into Juree's "death" and found that Juree's 
funeral rite was never held.

The death certificate was issued based on a document Ms Rasamee asked the 
village headman to issue to prove her mother's "death".

Police superintendent Sompong Suwanwong said he sent officers to look for Juree 
for 3 months.

Their investigations found that Ms Rasamee was regularly her mother around the 
Hat Yai district.

"It is difficult to arrest Juree as some of her relatives are influential in 
Hat Yai, and may have helped her to elude arrest," he said.

"It is a challenging case but we're confident everything will be solved soon."

(source: tnp.sg)






JAPAN:

Justice Ministry panel begins first comprehensive review of sex crime laws in 
over a century


A Justice Ministry panel on Monday began reviewing what critics call Japan's 
lax criminal penalties against rapists and other sex offenders, in the nation's 
1st comprehensive effort in more than a century to overhaul laws on sex crimes.

The panel of outside legal experts is tasked with discussing ways to revamp sex 
offense statutes that have remained untouched since their enactment in the 
Meiji Era, save a few minor changes.

During the first session of its deliberations Monday, the panel discussed 
whether to make sex crimes such as rape and indecent assault prosecutable 
without a complaint being filed by a victim, the Justice Ministry said.

Critics have long argued that victims tend to refrain from initiating legal 
action themselves, either because they are ashamed to come forward or are 
misguidedly convinced they are somehow at fault for what happened. This is 
often true even when their tormentors are family members, such as parents and 
siblings, critics say.

Most panel members agreed that no complaint by the victims should be deemed 
necessary to prosecute such crimes, a Justice Ministry official told reporters.

Other topics to be deliberated by the panel include raising the minimum 
sentence for rapists from the current 3 years to 5 years - equivalent to crimes 
such as murder, robbery and arson. While rape resulting in injury or death 
currently entails at least 5 years in prison, and a maximum of life, the panel 
will also consider increasing the minimum to 6 years.

It will also debate updating the definition of rape, which the law currently 
stipulates as referring only to an assault against women in the form of vaginal 
intercourse.

One possibility, the ministry said, is to make rape applicable to both male and 
female victims and inclusive of acts such as anal and oral sex.

Furthermore, the panel will look into the possibility of setting up a new 
penalty against rape committed by offenders who have taken advantage of their 
"guardianship" over children under the age of 18, such as parents, in a bid to 
curb incestuous abuse.

The move to review criminal penalties against sex crimes was originally 
spearheaded by Midori Matsushima, a former justice minister who, upon assuming 
the post in September 2014, declared that harsher penalties for sex offenders 
was a centerpiece of her policy agenda.

After wrapping up the discussions, the panel will submit recommendations to the 
ministry so it can compile amendment proposals.

(source: The Japan Times)






SINGAPORE:

see: 
http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/take-action-now/singapore-halt-kho-jabing-s-execution-ua-10315

(source: Amnesty International USA)