[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 10



CANADA:

Americans To Support Death Penalty: Poll


Canadians are more forward-thinking than Americans on a vast range of social 
issues - with 1 surprising exception, a new poll suggests.

Abortion, pornography, and sex-same relationships are significantly more 
accepted in Canada than the United States, according to results published 
Saturday by Abacus Data.

But our feelings on the death penalty are about the same.

The poll suggests a majority of respondents in both countries support the death 
penalty, with 58 % of Canadians and 59 % of Americans labeling the practice 
"morally right."

But when it comes to abortion, assisted dying and same-sex relationships, 
attitudes between Canada and the U.S. are more than 20 % points apart.

The numbers "confirm a more progressive, secular and libertarian predisposition 
in Canada," Abacus Data chairman Bruce Anderson said in a release, even though 
the trend didn't apply to views on capital punishment.

Abacus Data asked 1,500 Canadians whether they thought things like abortion, 
same-sex relationships, and capital punishment are morally acceptable.

Results were then compared to American data sets released by Gallup. The online 
survey, conducted between June 14 to 16, has a margin of error of 2.6 % points, 
19 times out of 20.

Last Canadian inmates hanged in 1962

The death penalty was officially abolished in Canada in 1976 by then-prime 
minister Pierre Trudeau.

No one had been executed for 14 years in Canada when the death penalty was 
scrapped.

However, the death penalty remains legal in 31 U.S. states. Use of the practice 
remains wildly uneven across the country.

In 2015, for instance, 6 states executed 28 inmates. 93 % of those executions 
took place in Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Florida.

(source: Huffington Post Canada)






MALDIVES:

Maldives to have first execution in 60 years in order to showcase 'Islamic 
credentials'


Beleaguered Maldives President Abdulla Yameen is adamant that the 1st execution 
of a convict in 60 years will take place under his watch as a reiteration of 
Maldives' Islamic credentials.

The politically isolated president, who is shunned by colleagues and family, is 
refusing to intervene despite several scholars calling the proposed execution 
un-Islamic.He has also ignored appeals of human rights groups and even the 
United Nations to stay the execution.

22-year-old Hussain Humaam Ahamed was condemned to death by the Maldives 
Supreme Court in 2014 for the murder of a Member of Parliament, Afrasheem Ali, 
in 2012.

The verdict was based on a confession that was obtained when he was in custody, 
which he retracted later. The Supreme Court, over which President Yameen has a 
stranglehold, disregarded the claim that Humaam has a mental disability and the 
request for an independent psychiatric evaluation.

If the death sentence is carried out, it will be the 1st execution in the 
Maldives since 1953.

The voices of protest have been crushed in the Maldives due to strict curbs, 
but renowned Islamic scholar at the University of Oxford, Tariq Ramadan, in a 
letter to President Yameen, has listed out reasons why the proposed execution 
is un-Islamic.

Citing extensively from the Hudud - the Islamic Penal Code, Ramadan has argued 
that 22-year-old Humaam's death penalty contravened many basic prescriptions in 
the Shariah.

Stating that Humaam's 'confession' was forcefully obtained, undermining 
fairness of his trial at a basic level, Ramadan has pointed out that pleas made 
by Humaam's family that he was suffering from mental disability, has been 
totally disregarded by the court.

This, Ramadan argues, is also against Islamic law and jurisprudence as any 
doubt about the mental health of a murderer should play in his or her favour.

The heavy conditions found in the Islamic legislation have as a raison d'etre 
('illah) to avoid any doubt; if there is the slightest doubt, then the 
punishment should be suspended.

Ramadan also emphasises that it was un-Islamic on the part of President Yameen 
to ignore requests of the victim's father and brother, who have stated that 
they do not wish the death sentence to be implemented.

This call to spare Humaam's life by 2 members of the victim's family cannot be 
ignored under Sharia law. According to the principles of qisas, if the family 
of the victim asks for the sentence not to be implemented at any time before 
the execution (for the majority of the 'ulama'), the latter should be suspended 
whatever the public authority might decide.

If Yameen were to respect Shariah conditions, it is imperative for him to 
listen to the family's position, says the scholar. Ramadan adds that the above 
and beyond all of this, Rahmah (compassion) is an absolute necessity and an 
essential principle even if there is no element of doubt and conditions are 
met.

Tariq Ramadan has categorically stated in his letter to President Yameen that 
Humaam's execution would contravene the fundamental principles of Islamic law 
and urged the latter to take all possible actions to prevent the execution.

Tariq Ramadan has got support from human rights groups around the world who 
have appealed to the Maldivian president that International law prohibits the 
use of death penalty against people with mental disabilities. But President 
Yameen, who has reintroduced capital punishment after a moratorium of 60 years, 
seems determined to not just stop the arbitrary deprivation of life but also 
break the tenets of Islamic law.

Ever since President Yameen reintroduced the death penalty in Maldives, 
execution facilities have been constructed at the Maldives' Maafushi Prison.

The age of criminal responsibility is 10 in the Maldives which means that even 
juvelines could potentially face execution.

(source: siasat.com)






KENYA:

It's time to implement the death penalty


The debate over the death penalty has for some time been relegated to the 
backburner for reasons best known to authorities. Proponents and opponents of 
the same are divided down the middle. The opponents allege that death penalty 
is against the Bill of Rights which gives each and every individual the right 
to life. They also argue this sentence does not have a deterrent effect, does 
not rehabilitate and that it's savage, beastly and inhuman.

Proponents on the other hand argue that the principle of just desserts compels 
a life to repay with another, an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth school. 
They also argue that death penalty will incapacitate permanently these psychos 
some of whom are responsible for multiple murders.

The Kenyan Penal Code Section 25 outlines death as one of the sentences that 
may be passed for capital offences. It states, "(1)Where any person is 
sentenced to death, the form of the sentence shall be to the effect only that 
he is to suffer death in the manner authorized by law. (2)Sentence of death 
shall not be pronounced on or recorded against any person convicted of an 
offence if it appears to the court that at the time when the offence was 
committed he was under the age of eighteen years, but in lieu thereof the court 
shall sentence such person to be detained during the President's pleasure, and 
if so sentenced he shall be liable to be detained in such place and under such 
conditions as the President may direct, and whilst so detained shall be deemed 
to be in legal custody."

Since 1987, Kenya has not carried out a single execution despite savagery and 
beastly crimes committed since. We instead put these psychos in condemned 
cells, over feed them, commute their sentences to life imprisonment and 
eventually release them back to the society to mock their victims.

The hangmen in our prisons are idle and have now become rusty, the dexterity of 
tightening a noose having deserted them after years of inaction. It's time we 
let them earn their pay. The tax payer is being shortchanged.

In America, a liberal democracy, 31 states still practice the death penalty 
only 21 have abolished it. The US government and military are among those which 
carry out the death penalty. Although methods vary from state to state from 
lethal injection or gas to firing squad, hanging or electrocution.

To imagine that you will treat a felon who commits larceny the same as the one 
who cuts out the tongues of his victims, crushes their testicles, and gouges 
their eyes out and proceeds to dismember the bodies is absurd and unfair. This 
is a creature who won???t find company even among the most savage of beasts. 
He/she is a misfit, a testament of creation gone wrong who should be 
exterminated with speed to ensure he does not pollute the human race.

Anyone who does not value the life of another does not also value his own life. 
Why should we value his? It will be a welcome break if we make grand corruption 
(theft of over 1 billion shillings) a capital offence. Ask China how they deal 
with the corrupt.

(soruce: Kungu Wanjiru, standardmedia.co.ke)






PHILIPPINES:

Death penalty a priority, Duterte tells lawmakers


President Rodrigo Duterte told lawmakers visiting Davao City Saturday night 
that he wants the reimposition of the death penalty as a priority measure once 
Congress convenes on July 25.

"He [said] so many officials are involved. It's like treason to him because 
they should be the ones who protect the people [from illegal drugs] yet they 
are the cause of its rampant spread in the country," Senator Juan Edgardo 
Angara, one of the lawmakers, said.

"He's very serious about it [the death penalty]. He believes it should be 
brought back," Angara added.

2 senators, 2 governors, and 12 congressmen from the incoming majority bloc 
flew to Davao City for a 5-hour meeting with the President.

Among those present were Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Angara, Citizens' Battle 
Against Corruption Rep. Sherwin Tugna, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco, 
Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz Josef Alvarez, and Masbate 3rd District Rep. 
Scott Davies Lanete.

Also present were Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap and Bataan Gov. Albert Raymond Garcia.

The lawmakers assured Duterte they would support whatever measure he submits to 
Congress.

"We are open to that [reinstating the death penalty)]" Angara said. "We will 
listen to the arguments."

The senator added, however, that in the final vote, each lawmaker would have to 
vote his or her conscience.

Tugna said Duterte did not specifically request for new anti-drug laws to be 
passed as existing measures are already in place.

"I believe he [Duterte] has a good track record of implementing them," he 
added.

Before he took his oath of office, Duterte told House leaders that he prefers 
to publicly hang criminals instead of killing them with a lethal injection.

After the 5-hour discussion at the After Dark Resto Bar, the President gave his 
guests a tour of the Central 911 headquarters. They parted ways at around 3:30 
a.m.

Both Angara and Tugna agreed that Duterte seemed different when he is in Davao 
City.

"He's in his comfort zone in Davao. It's better to see him in Davao," Angara 
said.

"He's more relaxed here," Tugna added.

Lawmakers said they are glad that Duterte made time to meet informally with 
them.

His predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III, had been criticized for not 
making good use of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, who opposes the death penalty, said 
reinstating capital punishment would undermine efforts by the Philippines to 
save the lives of Filipinos working overseas who are on death row.

"One of the many ramifications [of the return of the death penalty] is that the 
Philippine government would be deprived of the moral high ground when it comes 
to our official appeals for clemency - for foreign governments to spare the 
lives of our citizens who are facing execution," Atienza said.

"Should Congress reinstate the cruel and inhuman punishment, it would be 
extremely problematic for us to plead with other governments for compassion, if 
we ourselves are killing own convicts here - if we ourselves do not respect the 
value of human life," Atienza added.

At least 88 Filipinos are facing the death penalty abroad, mostly in Malaysia 
and China, for various felonies, the Department of Foreign Affairs says.

The 88 includes Mary Jane Veloso, the 31-year-old Filipino woman who was set to 
be executed by firing squad in Indonesia last year, but who obtained a 
last-minute reprieve after Manila asked Jakarta that she be first allowed to 
provide testimonial evidence against her alleged human trafficker in a criminal 
case in the Philippines.

8 of the top 10 foreign destinations of Filipino workers overseas "are on 
record as subscribing to capital punishment and aggressively carrying out 
executions," Atienza said.

Of the 10, Atienza said, only Canada and Hong Kong have abolished the death 
penalty, while the rest are actively killing convicts.

(source: The Standard)

*******

Death penalty restoration may doom 88 OFWs on death row


Mary Jane Veloso and 87 other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) languishing in 
death row in overseas prisons will be deprived of a chance of absolution as 
soon as the capital punishment is restored in the Philippines, Buhay Party-list 
Rep. Lito Atienza warned.

Meantime, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is expected 
to come out with a statement on death penalty anytime soon.

LOSING MORAL HIGH GROUND

Atienza stressed that the Philippine government's efforts to save the lives of 
OFWs in death prisons overseas will effectively be counteracted by the death 
penalty bill being pushed by the Duterte administration.

"One of the many ramifications (of the return of the death penalty) is that the 
Philippine government would be deprived of the moral high ground when it comes 
to our official appeals for clemency - for foreign governments to spare the 
lives of our citizens who are facing execution," said Atienza, who is pushing 
for a pro-life legislative agenda.

"Should Congress reinstate the cruel and inhuman punishment, it would be 
extremely problematic for us to plead with other governments for compassion, if 
we ourselves are killing own convicts here - if we ourselves do not respect the 
value of human life," Atienza added.

SAVING MARY JANE

With the help of former Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, now Senator Manny 
Pacquiao and the Aquino administration, Veloso, a drug convict in Indonesia, 
was granted a temporary reprieve last year.

She was saved from the series of executions carried out on April 29, 2015 by 
the Indonesian government.

Executed that day in Nusa Kambangan were Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran 
Sukumaran; Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, 4 Nigerians and an Indonesian.

Citing a report from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Atienza said at least 
87 other OFWs are confronted with the death sentence abroad, most of them in 
Malaysia and China.

CHURCH'S STAND

A Church source said it was CBCP president Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates 
Villegas who told him of the plan to release a statement.

However, it was not clear if the statement will be released at the end of the 
bishops' Plenary Assembly which started Saturday at the Pope Pius XII Catholic 
Center in Manila.

The CBCP usually issue a collective statement on pastoral and social issues 
after their 3-day gathering.

But a check with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo revealed that the 
bishops have yet to discuss the issue as ofSunday morning.

But a number of Catholic prelates earlier already expressed their opposition to 
the idea of reviving death penalty saying it's against moral law.

"Death penalty by hanging is against moral law. Human life is sacred because it 
comes from God, the Creator. No one, not even the State, may take a human life, 
even of hardened criminals," said Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros.

(source: Manila Bulletin)