[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 23



PHILIPPINES:

Manila seeks death for foreign 'drug lords'


A powerful committee in the House of Representatives has approved a bill 
imposing the death penalty on foreign "drug lords" arrested in the country to 
stem the alarming increase in the number of illegal drug users especially the 
youth.

The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs passed and endorsed the bill to the 
chamber for plenary debate and approval as it pointed out the urgent need for 
its enactment into law, citing the major role that foreign-based syndicates 
have played in spreading the use of illegal drugs in the Philippines and 
elsewhere.

A law passed by Congress in 2006 abolished the death penalty and replaced it 
with life imprisonment for those convicted by the courts for "heinous" crimes 
like illegal drugs, murder, kidnap-for-ransom and plunder.

The law was supported by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who reportedly 
wanted it as a "gift" for the Pope when she visited the Vatican in 2006 in line 
with the Catholic Church's firm stand against the death penalty.

But the bill's principal sponsors, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de 
Oro City in Manila and his brother Congressman Maximo Rodriguez Junior of the 
party list Abante Mindanao (Advance Mindanao) argued the death penalty should 
be imposed on foreign drug lords arrested and charged in court for operating in 
the country.

The Rodriguezes cited the examples of China and Indonesia that imposed the 
death penalty on "drug mules" including Filipinos caught smuggling illegal 
drugs like cocaine, marijuana as well as methamphetamine hydrochloride, more 
popularly known as "shabu," into their territories.

The 2 brothers pointed out the intention of the law banning the death penalty 
was "clear and noble" but they also stressed: "There are some sectors in 
society who believe that this law is not just and equitable because while 
foreigners may not be executed in the Philippines for drug trafficking, 
Filipinos who commit drug offences are executed in other countries with the 
death penalty."

As a result, they emphasised this emboldened foreigners to establish illegal 
drug factories in the Philippines because once convicted, they would suffer 
only the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

(source: The Gulf Today)






INDIA:

Delhi assembly passes bill proposing amendments in CrPC


Delhi Assembly today passed a Bill proposing amendments in the Code of Criminal 
Procedure (CrPC), setting up another flashpoint with the Centre, as it seeks to 
broaden the scope of magisterial probes into cases of kidnapping, rape and 
disappearances.

The Opposition BJP accused the AAP government of "challenging" the authority of 
Parliament by empowering itself through the move. CrPC is a subject in the 
Concurrent list.

Till now, magisterial probe is ordered only in cases of custodial death, 
homicide, suicide of a woman or death of a woman.

Through the amendment to section 176(1) of CrPC the government wants to widen 
its scope to cover any other cases of suspicious disappearance, rapes in police 
custody, suspicious death, Delhi Home Minister Satyender Jain, who tabled the 
Bill, said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that except three issues - police, 
land and law and order, the city government has the power bring amendments in 
laws governing other areas.

"No question should be raised over the power of Delhi Assembly," he said. 
Sisodia said that the bill will now be sent to President through the Lt 
Governor.

"It is up to President whether he pass or reject this bill on the advise of 
Centre," Sisodia added.

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta lodged his protest against the Bill saying 
only Parliament has powers to amend the CrPC.

"By introducing this Bill the Delhi government is challenging the authority of 
parliament. It is disrespect of Parliament," he said.

Significantly, he assured the government of assistance provided it approaches 
through the "proper channel." "In that case we will approach the Centre as well 
for the amendments," he said.

The government also tabled the Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery 
of Services) Amendment Bill under which officials are liable to pay penalty for 
delay in providing services included in the citizens' charter.

It also seeks to ensure "automatic and mandatory" compensation for people doing 
away with the need to separately apply for it.

The Bill envisages entrusting a Competent Officer with the purpose of effecting 
payment of compensation to an individual and recovery of the compensation from 
the officer or person responsible.

(source: Press Trust of India)






SAUDI ARABIA:

Palestinian poet to appeal Saudi death sentence----Defense attorneys have until 
mid-December to appeal penalty for apostasy handed down to Ashraf Fayadh


A relative of the Palestinian artist sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for 
apostasy says his defense lawyers plan to appeal.

Saudi Arabia's Al-Watan news website quoted Ashraf Fayadh's brother-in-law, 
Osama Abu Raya, as saying the verdict announced last Tuesday is an initial 
sentence. Defense lawyers have until mid-December to file the appeal.

Fayadh was arrested in January 2014. Al-Watan reported that he was charged with 
blasphemy, spreading atheism and having long hair, along with other charges.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Monday that Fayadh has denied the 
charges, which stem from a published book of his poetry and from a complaint 
lodged by a man who accused Fayadh of making blasphemous statements during a 
heated discussion at a cafe.

Last week's decision, apparently after an appeal, overturned another lower 
court's ruling in 2014 sentencing Fayadh to 4 years' prison and 800 lashes.

As the verdict is a lower court ruling, it can still be reviewed by an appeals 
court and the supreme court. All executions also have to be ultimately approved 
by King Salman.

Under Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic legal code, murder, drug trafficking, armed 
robbery, rape and apostasy are all punishable by death.

London-based Amnesty International said earlier this month that 151 people have 
been executed in Saudi Arabia this year, the highest figure since 192 people 
were put to death in 1995.

(source: Tiomes of Israel)






IRAN:

Authorities must stop execution of young man convicted of murder in unfair 
trial


The execution of a 25-year-old man who has been sentenced to death after an 
unfair trial lacking basic safeguards would be both cruel and an aberration of 
justice, said Amnesty International today following an announcement that he 
will be hanged at Raja'i Shahr Prison in Karaj, near Tehran at dawn tomorrow.

Alireza Shahi was sentenced to death in June 2012 under the Islamic legal 
principle of qesas (retribution-in-kind) for involvement in a fatal stabbing 
which took place during a fight among several young men in December 2008 when 
he was 18 years old. After his arrest he was placed in detention for two weeks 
where he says he was tortured and otherwise ill-treated to confess. He was also 
denied access to both a lawyer and his family.

"It is always cruel and inhumane to take away an individual's life by hanging 
but the cruelty is compounded when the execution follows an unfair trial which 
has relied on coerced confessions, and ignored allegations of torture and other 
ill-treatment," said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty 
International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.

Alireza Shahi had only 1 hearing, before Branch 71 of the Criminal Court in 
Tehran. According to court documents, during primary investigations which were 
conducted without a lawyer present, Alireza Shahi admitted to stabbing the 
victim. However, he later retracted his confession alleging that he had been 
tortured and accused another man who was also involved in the fight of 
inflicting the fatal stab wound. His death sentence was upheld by the Supreme 
Court in May 2013.

"The rate of executions in Iran is deplorable which, if they continue at the 
current rate, could reach more than 1,000 this year. In case after case we hear 
allegations of torture, fundamentally flawed trials, all in breach of 
international law and standards. The Iranian authorities must immediately stop 
the execution of Alireza Shahi, commute his death sentence and investigate the 
allegations that he was tortured or otherwise ill-treated."

Amnesty International is also calling on the authorities to stop the hanging of 
a juvenile offender, Salar Shadizadi, which is feared to have been scheduled 
for Saturday 28 November. He has been sentenced to death for killing a friend 
when he was 15 years old, in breach of international law's prohibition on the 
use of the death penalty against people who were under 18 years old at the time 
of the crime.

Iran is the 2nd most prolific executioner in the world after China, according 
to Amnesty International's latest global death penalty report.

(source: Amnesty International USA)