[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

April 14



TURKEY:

Turkey Will Try to Return the Death Penalty After the Referendum, Erdogan 
Promised


The Turkish President Redzhep Tayip Erdogan said the government should propose 
a bill to return the death penalty if the constitutional changes to move to a 
presidential republic are approved on the referendum on Sunday.

At a rally in the eastern province of Erzurum, he said he would approve such a 
project if it passes in parliament but is ready to start a new consultation if 
it encounters resistance from lawmakers. "For the return of the death penalty 
requires a constitutional amendment, but if parliament does not approve, I will 
turn it to a public referendum, as we did on April 16. Let the public decide," 
Erdogan said, quoted by "Hurriyet".

"The day, which will be decided this would be April 16th ," he stressed the 
President and added that he would need a consensus from all parties to embark 
on the return of the death penalty. "Mr. Kilicdaroglu [the leader of the 
largest opposition Republican People's Party] says he would approve it. I hope 
that will not be denied when the time comes for it," Erdogan said.

(source: novinite.com)






JAPAN:

Top court upholds death penalty for woman for killing 3 men


The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence given to a 42-year-old 
woman for killing 3 men she met through an online dating service in the Tokyo 
area in 2009.

Although Kanae Kijima had pleaded not guilty to the murders, the top court 
ruled she killed all 3 -- Takao Terada 53, Kenzo Ando, 80, and Yoshiyuki Oide, 
41 -- between January and August of 2009.

Lower courts recognized Kijima, who has changed her surname to Doi while on 
death row, as the perpetrator, mainly based on circumstantial evidence, while 
rejecting the defense counsel's argument that the victims may have committed 
suicide or died by accident. The cause of death in each case was carbon 
monoxide poisoning.

In March 2012, the Saitama District Court found her guilty of murder and 
sentenced her to death as demanded by the prosecution, saying she bought coal 
briquettes and sleeping pills, prepared stoves and then stayed with each man 
until just before he died.

In March 2014, the Tokyo High Court upheld the death sentence, saying she 
committed the crimes to maintain a luxurious lifestyle.

(source: The Mainichi)






BANGLADESH:

EU calls on Bangladesh to abolish death sentence


The European Union delegation in Dhaka has urged the Bangladeshi authorities to 
introduce a moratorium on executions as the "1st step towards definitive 
abolition of capital punishment".

In a statement on Thursday, the EU's Dhaka office said capital punishment is 
"not a deterrent against crime and renders miscarriages of justice 
irreversible".

"The European Union universally opposes the use of capital punishment."

The call came following the execution of 3 militants for the 2004 grenade 
attack on a Sylhet shrine gathering, targeting the then British high 
commissioner Anwar Choudhury. Three people, including 2 policemen, were killed 
in the attack.

The envoy sustained injuries along with nearly 40 employees of the Sylhet 
district administration, including its chief.

Banned radical outfit Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami leader Abdul Hannan aka Mufti 
Hannan and his accomplices Sharif Shahedul alias Bipul and Delwar Hossain Ripon 
were executed on Wednesday night after completing a long trial process.

The British High Commission in Dhaka earlier told bdnews24.com that bringing 
the perpetrators to justice was "right", but reiterated the UK's opposition to 
death penalty in all circumstances.

(source: bdnews24.com)






PAKISTAN:

Pak Army says 'no compromise' on Jadhav's death sentence


The Pakistan Army said Thursday there will be 'no compromise' on the issue of 
death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav by a military 
court.

The remark comes as Pakistan faces hostile backlash from India over the death 
penalty to Jadhav.

In a Corps Commanders' Conference presided by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) 
General Qamar Javed Bajwa, "The forum was also briefed about Kulbushan Sudhir 
Jadhav. It was concluded that no compromise shall be made on such anti state 
acts," according to an ISPR statement.

The statement said that the forum also reviewed national security environment 
and recent developments in the region.

"Forum reviewed progress of operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and provision of support 
to ongoing National Housing and Population census. COAS appreciated formations, 
intelligence agencies and Law Enforcement Agencies for successful execution of 
operations," the statement added.

Jadhav was awarded the death penalty on April 10 in an unprecedented decision 
that sparked a diplomatic spat between the 2 hostile neighbours.

Pakistan media reported yesterday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General 
Bajwa have agreed not to come under pressure from India over the issue.

During a meeting, the Army Chief took the Prime Minister into confidence 
regarding Jadhav.

On Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned Islamabad 
that it risked damaging bilateral ties with New Delhi if it went ahead with the 
execution of Jadhav.

Jadhav was arrested in March last year in the restive Balochistan province and 
accused of being a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent, who was fuelling 
the Baloch separatist movement and attempting to sabotage the multi-billion 
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

India has, however, so far categorically denied such charges.

(source: business-standard.com)

************************

Islamabad Unafraid of New Delhi's Threats Over Death Penalty to 'Indian Spy'


Pakistani Field General Court Martial declared the death sentence verdict to 
Jadgav on Monday. The move prompted sharp criticism by Indian authorities, 
including the country's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj who warned Pakistan 
about the severe consequences of the potential execution for bilateral 
relations.

"Pakistan will not take any pressure from India," Sharif said, as quoted by 
news outlet Times Now.

Jadhav, 46, a former Indian navy personnel and businessman, was arrested by 
Pakistani authorities in March 2016 on charges of conspiring against Pakistan 
and conducting spy activities in the country's cities of Balochistan and 
Karachi. Pakistan's government consider him to be an active officer of the 
Indian Navy working for the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of the Indian 
foreign intelligence agency.

According to the Indian Foreign Ministry, Jadhav was kidnapped in 2016 from 
Iran and his subsequent detention had never been "explained credibly" by the 
Pakistani side. New Delhi added that the Indian government had made formal 
requests for consular access to Jadhav 13 times since his arrest, but the 
requests had been rejected by the Pakistani authorities.

(source: sputniknews.com)