[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 29




AUSTRALIA/PAKISTAN:

Australian Government urged to intervene on behalf of Asia Bibi


Government of Australia implored to intervene on behalf of Asia Bibi, a 
Pakistani Christian woman on death row. Her appeal case is scheduled to be 
heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in October. In the face of the eminent 
case hearing, international pressure grows on Pakistan for acquittal of the 
Christian respondent.

For this reason, a demonstration has been scheduled in the Australian capital 
calling for release of Asia Bibi. The demonstration is scheduled to be held on 
October 8, 2016 - the rally being termed as the "Anti- Sharia Law Rally." The 
rally will start at 11am, the assemblage will start a march towards the 
Pakistani Consulate at 109 Pitt St Sydney starting from the Parliament House of 
NSW 6 Macquarie St Sydney.

The rally is intended to urge the Australian Government to intervene on behalf 
of Asia Bibi, there are calls for engaging the Pakistani authorities on 
diplomatic level for release and acquittal of Asia Bibi who has been awarded a 
death penalty over blasphemy conviction. The protesters are demanding for a 
fair trial for the Christian respondent. They are also calling for fail safe 
security for the legal team representing Asia Bibi and her family.

The organizers and demonstrators also would urge the Australian Government to 
put pressure on Pakistan to make sure that the rule of 'one law for all' is 
maintained in their country. In this regard, Michael Andjelkovic, the 
Australian Justice of the Peace stated: "This case demonstrates the cruelty, 
un-equality and divisiveness of Blasphemy Law ..."

While remarking in this regard, Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British 
Pakistani Christian Association a Christian advocacy and charity group said: 
"Asia Bibi has suffered the ignominy of 7 years of imprisonment on trumped up 
charges because her faith was offensive to Muslims. People of good conscience 
everywhere have demanded justice for Asia, moved by the plight of an innocent 
mother of 5.

"Pakistan's government have failed in their duty to Asia and the Christian 
minority among them as a whole, their failure has been a blight on Pakistan's 
already tarnished reputation. Please pray that this appeal is expedited and 
that the judge is able to reach a rational verdict, based on evidence heard 
without any duress," he said.

(source: christiansinpakistan.com)






PHILIPPINES:

Manny Pacquiao admits drug use as he backs Duterte's crackdown----The boxing 
star says it is unfair to blame the president for the more than 3,000 deaths in 
his war on dealers.


Manny Pacquiao has admitted he took "all kinds of drugs" - but supports a 
crackdown on dealers which has led to more than 3,000 deaths in the 
Philippines.

The boxing star, who was elected as a senator in May, said he backed president 
Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs and claimed that the leader was chosen by God to 
"discipline the people".

Since taking office in June, Mr Duterte has put the crackdown at the core of 
presidency and said it will not stop "until the last drug manufacturer is 
killed".

According to police, 3,171 drug dealers and users have been killed - 2/3 by 
unknown assailants and the rest in police operations.

Pacquiao, 37, said: "The president, he doesn't know my experience with drugs.

"I tried drugs ... many kinds of drugs, all kinds of drugs."

The boxer said his substance abuse happened for years "before I became a 
champion".

He added it was unfair to blame the drugs-related death toll on Mr Duterte.

Pacquiao said: "God put him there for a reason, for purpose - to discipline the 
people.

"In the past administrations, people didn't respect the law, the leader, the 
authorities.

"What Duterte is trying to do is let the people know - and put it in their 
heart and minds - that you need to respect the laws of the land."

The boxer, who is the godfather of Mr Duterte's grandson, is a close ally of 
the president.

In his 1st speech in the senate, Pacquiao backed Mr Duterte's drugs crackdown 
by calling for the death penalty to be reinstated for dealers.

Pacquiao also fronted a motion to oust the chair of a high-profile committee 
examining the president's links to vigilante death squads in Davao.

The 37-year-old's comments come after Mr Duterte sparked outrage by calling 
Barack Obama a "son of a whore" while warning the US president not to question 
him about extrajudicial killings.

Despite the fall-out, Pacquiao asserted that the Philippine president is "a 
nice guy".

He said: "(Mr Duterte) is a respectful person, a hospitable person, a friendly 
person."

(source: inquirer.net)






SUDAN:

Trial of Christian pastors facing death penalty over spying charges in Sudan 
adjourned


The trial of 2 Christian pastors facing death penalty in Sudan over espionage 
charges has been adjourned until next month due to the prosecution's lack of 
preparation for the case.

According to insider sources of the World Watch Monitor, the prosecution 
presented videos to back up the spying charges when the case resumed. However, 
the defense said the clip was not relevant to the case of the pastors. The 
judge has accused the prosecution of failure to adequately prepare for the 
case, causing the 2nd delay in the trial in Khartoum, Christian Today details.

In the said case, 4 defendants including Christian pastors Hassan Taour and 
Kuwa Shamal, Czech aid worker Petr Jasek, and Darfuri graduate Abdulmonem 
Abdumawla have been charged with espionage. The 4 of them could be penalized 
with death if convicted of the spying charges.

Aside from the espionage charges, the Christian pastors have also been accused 
of waging war against the state. Their case stemmed from a Darfuri man named 
Ali Omer's request for assistance with medical costs, the Christian Solidarity 
Worldwide (CSW) reports.

Abdumawla had collected money from several organizations and individuals 
including Rev. Abduraheem to help Omer pay for the treatment for his severe 
burns. Rev. Shamal, on the other hand, appears to have been involved in the 
case due to his friendship with Abduraheem and his position in the Sudan Church 
of Christ.

CSW chief executive Mervyn Thomas has released a statement calling on the 
Sudanese Government to make sure that the trial is conducted according to the 
Fair Trial Principles. He also expressed concern over the grave criminal 
charges filed against the 2 Christian pastors who were simply trying to help 
Omer with his medical expenses. The CSW officer urged the government to put a 
stop to the harassment of religious and ethnic minorities at the hands of 
security services.

In the meantime, the hearing of the 4 defendants has been adjourned until Oct. 
17.

(source: Christian Daily)