[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 14





IRAN:

Website Manager Sentenced to Death



Mohammad Hossein Maleki, the manager of Asre-Javan website and its Telegram 
channel, was sentenced to death on the charge of "corruption on earth."

According to a close source, Mohammad Hossein Maleki, 47, from Shahin Shahr in 
Isfahan, was arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on March 1, 
2017. Having been the manager of Asre-Javan website and Telegram channel before 
the arrest, he was in solitary confinement for 3 months.

A close source who spoke with IHR on condition of anonymity, told, "The website 
focused on different practical and cultural subjects, besides, there were some 
CCcam satellite TV accounts for sale which are the common accounts that are 
sold in Iran."

Mohammad Hossein Maleki was sentenced to "corruption on earth through organized 
activities regarding the sale of CCcam and several satellite accounts" at 
Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan.

In the early stages of the investigation, the interrogator had ordered for 
suspension of prosecution for Mohammad Hossein Maleki, however, the prosecutor 
objected the order and the case was sent to the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, 
and then to the Supreme Court, and finally to Branch 2 of the Revolutionary 
Court of Isfahan.

A part of Maleki's verdict, which IHR has reviewed, mentions, "In his 
statements, he (Mohammad Hossein Maleki) admitted to his activities regarding 
electronic commerce, developing a website for satellite TV receiver repairs, 
publishing advertisements, and sharing satellite channels on the internet and 
said that he intended to make sport shows, movies, and documentaries available 
on his website and never intended to share pornography. He stated that he only 
wanted to make money."

Another part of the verdict mentions, "Considering the contents of the case 
including the first report of the statements of the defendant during the 
investigation and developing the website and different channels with financial 
motives and claiming that the contents of the channels were not obscene but 
vulgar and also considering the sale of CCcam with vulgar content to 850 people 
which proves his extensive activity and also due to his connection with people 
abroad...he is subject to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code and, therefore, 
the court sentences him to death penalty."

Mohammad Hossein Maleki is currently held at the general ward of Dastgerd 
Prison in Isfahan.

(source: Iran Human Rights)








SRI LANKA:

Sri Lanka's HRC tells President to reconsider move on death penalty



The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has written to President Maithripala 
Sirisena raising concerns over moves to implement the death penalty on convicts 
involved in drug trafficking.

Commission Chairperson Dr. Deepika Udagama said in the letter that the death 
penalty is a serious human rights violation.

Udagama said that the commission does not feel implementing the death penalty 
can address the issue of drug trafficking.

The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission also notes that implementing the death 
sentence will only contribute negatively to a society where the public have 
lost faith in the justice system.

The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission also reminded the President of a set of 
recommendations issued in 2016 which called for the abolition of the death 
penalty in Sri Lanka in keeping with Sri Lanka's commitment to a more humane 
society consonant with human rights principles and values.

ln terms of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 2L of 1996, the 
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is required by Section 10 (c) and 10(d) of 
the said Act, among other things, to advise and assist the Government in 
formulating legislation and administrative directives and procedures in 
furtherance of the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and to make 
recommendations to the Government regarding measures which should be taken to 
ensure that national laws and administrative practices are in accordance with 
international human rights norms and standards.

President Maithripala Sirisena, last week, said that he would sign required 
orders to execute capital punishment for convicted drug traffickers who carry 
out large scale drug smuggling operations while in detention.

The President's office quoted the President as saying that although there are 
certain opinions regarding capital punishment in a Buddhist society, if large 
number of criminal acts spread in such a society despite religious sermons, it 
will be necessary to take some timely actions to control crime.

Cabinet spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne had said the death penalty is to be 
initially implemented on 19 large scale drug offence convicts.

He said that cabinet approval had been obtained to implement the death penalty 
on repeat offenders related to large scale drug offences.

Initially 19 convicts have been identified and the President is to sign the 
documents to implement the death penalty on them.

source: (Colombo Gazette)








TAIWAN:

Outgoing minister denies death penalty veto claims



Outgoing Minister of Justice Chiu Tai-san on his final day in office yesterday 
rejected a suggestion that he was forced out because he would not order 
executions.

At a farewell ceremony held by the ministry, Ciu was asked about his thoughts 
on the death penalty and his handling of several high-profile murder cases, 
which media reported was the reason for Chiu being forced out in the Cabinet 
reshuffle.

A number of heinous crimes were committed over the past few months, but it 
would not be right to rush to conclusions, Chiu said, implying that ordering 
executions would be the wrong response.

"Protecting social stability and public safety requires the establishment of a 
strong social safety net," he said. "The justice ministry has since last year 
been working with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to improve treatment for 
people with mental problems."

"Police have also taken measures to prevent heinous crimes. We have seen 
several serious cases lately, but it would be inappropriate if we ignored the 
roots of the problem and dealt with it in a rushed way," Chiu added.

Following several highly publicized dismemberments, there have been calls for 
judges to hand down death sentences and for the justice minister to sign 
execution orders.

Chiu denied that his departure had to do with controversy over the death 
penalty.

He also rejected reporters' suggestions that he was sacked because he stalled 
the decision to grant former president Chen Shui-bian early medical parole on 
appeal.

Investigation Bureau Director-General Tsai Ching-hsiang is to succeed Chiu.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Ministry of the 
Interior yesterday held their own farewell parties for outgoing Minister of 
Transportation and Communications Hochen Tan and outgoing Minister of the 
Interior Yeh Jiunn-rong.

When asked about his plans, Hochen said that he would hike New Taipei City's 
Danlan Old Trail.

Yeh, who on Monday is to take over as education minister, sang a Taiwanese song 
titled Persistence at the farewell party and encouraged his soon-to-be former 
colleagues to persist and maintain an attitude befitting of their roles as 
government officials.

(source: Taipei Times)