[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

February 7



EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:

MEPs want to prohibit trade with countries that still have death penalty



Speaking at the opening of seventh World Congress Against the Death Penalty on 
February 5, a number of European Parliamentarians took the opportunity to 
demand that the EU prohibit trade with countries who still retain capital 
punishment.

Members of the European Parliament political parties, the Socialist & Democrats 
and Greens/EFA, said Brussels should apply the principle of conditionality with 
respect to a country’s human rights record when distributing EU funds in 
African, Caribbean, and Pacific, or ACP, states.

“As EU citizens, we say ‘No’ to the death penalty…this message must be heard 
across the world. The EU should make it easier for authorities to block trade, 
for example, to countries which still retain the death penalty,” Alex Mayer, a 
Member of the Committee of Economic and Monetary affairs said.

The initiative to make the abolition of the death penalty a prerequisite for 
trade relations with the EU was also endorsed by Klaus Buchner, a member of the 
sub-committee on human rights, who said trade is a primary tool to encourage 
states to respect both the rule of law and an individual’s fundamental rights.

The initiative, however, has little chance to attain any legal framework in the 
near future as in the run-up to the unpredictable economic and political 
consequences posed by Brexit, few in the EU have the appetite to risk trade 
relations with any state linked to the EU by the Cotonou Agreement that covers 
over 100 countries with a total population of some 1.5 billion people.

The ACP-EU Partnership Agreement was signed in Cotonou, Benin in 2000 and 
expires in 2020. It is the most comprehensive partnership agreement between 
developing countries and the EU. At present, there are 53 states in the world 
who still have the death penalty, including China, India, the US, Japan, and 
Singapore.

(source: New Europe)








NIGERIA:

Court sentences NURTW chairman to death for killing Lagos policeman



The world currently clamours to eradicate capital punishment due to the notion 
that punishment should give room for rehabilitation – in other words, the death 
sentence is giving up on a human being. But on the other hand, Positivists 
minds clamour equal punishment for people who simply kill others.

That argument is due to arise again as the chairman of National Union of Road 
Transport Workers (NURTW), Boundary/Aiyetoro Unit, Saheed Arogundade has been 
sentenced to death by hanging. His offence, he killed a Police officer, Gbenga 
Oladipupo, at Gbara junction, Ayetoro, Ajegunle, Lagos around 8am on April 10, 
2010.

According to Instablog9ja, Arogundade was sentenced to death by Justice Olabisi 
Akinlade of Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday. after he found Arogundade 
guilty of murder.

In November 2011, the prosecution arraigned Arogundade alongside Mustapha 
Layeni, Adebayo Abdullahi, Seyi Pabiekun, Sikiru Rufai and Yusuf Arogundade on 
a 2-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

When Oladipupo was reportedly stabbed to death by the convict and his cohorts 
in 2010, he was reportedly going to Olayinka Street, Ayetoro, to visit his 
mother. His corpse was later deposited at Isolo General Hospital morgue.

The deceased was stabbed to death for limiting the NURTW’s income around 
Aiyetoro area, Lagos by encouraging the operation of tricycles.

(source: pulse.ng)




MALAYSIA:

RESPA: Death penalty should remain



The Retired Senior Police Officers Association of Malaysia (Respa) supports the 
stand of families of murdered victims who want the death sentence to remain.

Its president Tan Sri Ismail Che Rus said that no crime should go unpunished, 
whatever the degree of punishment.

“In respect of the death penalty, the sentence should depend on the severity 
and circumstances of the crime.

“We support the stand of families of murdered victims that the death sentence 
should remain while also supporting the views of cross-sections of the public 
that the death penalty should be reserved for serious crimes so that justice 
will truly be served,” he said in a statement on Thursday. The association also 
feels that those currently on death row can have their sentences commuted to 
life imprisonment after due and careful evaluation of their sentences, taking 
into consideration that they have truly repented, he added.

“For drug trafficking cases under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, there are 
instances where the mandatory death sentence is warranted due to overwhelming 
grounds.

“There are also other cases under the Act, in which the accused is sent for 
rehabilitation. We support the principle that sentencing of offences should be 
more in favour of rehabilitation and be an avenue for a person to turn over a 
new leaf,” Ismail said.

He was commenting on the government’s plans to amend and repeal a total 117 
laws on punishment for serious offences, the repeal of eight laws with 32 
offences involving the death penalty of which 12 are mandatory death sentences, 
and the repeal of the Sedition Act 1948.

On the plan to repeal the Sedition Act, Ismail urged the government to instead 
amend and improve the Act.

“We propose that the preamble of the Act be crafted clearly and precisely and 
that the words “seditious tendency” in Section 3 (1) be defined specifically 
and clearly so that the Act may be enforced fairly to safeguard racial harmony 
and national stability in multiracial Malaysia,” he said.

(source: thestar.com.my)


SRI LANKA:

Death penalty to be implemented within 2 months



The death penalty will be implemented within 2 months, President Maithripala 
Sirisena told Parliament today.

He said that he is determined to implement the death penalty despite some 
strong objections.

The President said that he had sought a report on convicts sentenced to death 
for grave crimes related to drugs.

However he said the report had been delayed.

(source: Colombo Gazette)

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

Sri Lanka leader asks rights groups not to oppose executions



Sri Lanka's president urged human rights groups on Wednesday not to interfere 
with his plans to end a 43-year moratorium on capital punishment.

Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament that executions will resume in the next 2 
months.

He said many larger nations carry out executions but smaller countries like Sri 
Lanka are hampered by human rights groups in their efforts to control crime.

"In carrying out the executions ... I especially appeal to the human rights 
organizations not to control punishments given to serious criminals by raising 
human rights issues," Sirisena said.

Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist, a religion which advocates non-violence. 
It last executed a prisoner in 1976.

Sirisena said while the country has had positive influences from all religions, 
tough law enforcement is necessary to curb crime and maintain order.

Recent large seizures of narcotics have raised suspicions that the country has 
become a smuggling hub.

During a visit to the Philippines last month, Sirisena praised President 
Rodrigo Duterte's drug crackdown as "an example to the world." Thousands of 
suspects have been killed in the crackdown, which Duterte launched after taking 
office in 2016. Rights groups have denounced the killings as extrajudicial 
executions.

Sri Lanka has 1,299 prisoners facing death sentences, including 48 convicted of 
drug offenses.

Police have intensified efforts to crack down on drugs, seizing 90 kilograms 
(198 pounds) of heroin from a luxury apartment in Colombo last month. 2 
Americans, 2 Sri Lankans and an Afghan were arrested. On Tuesday, a total 110 
kilograms (242 pounds) of drugs were seized from 2 locations near the capital.

Giada Girelli, a human rights analyst with the Harm Reduction International 
drug policy research group, said last week that there is no evidence that 
executions would serve as an effective deterrent to drug use or trafficking.

(source: Associated Press)




PHILIPPINES:

CHR opposes move to revive death penalty



The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday reiterated its strong 
opposition to initiatives to re-introduce the death penalty for drug possession 
in the Philippines.

“The Commission continues to express its strong opposition to any move that 
would reintroduce the death penalty in the Philippines,” CHR spokesperson 
Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.

“Crimes must be punished. But achieving justice is not simply about imposing 
harsh punishments, but rather ensuring that a responsive penal system is in 
place,” she added.

The CHR statement was made after the House of Representatives withdrew its 
approval of House Bill 8909 which revives the death penalty for individuals 
found in possession of illegal drugs in parties and social gatherings and 
meetings.

“Any proposal advocating for the reimposition of capital punishment also runs 
against the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights, which seeks to abolish the death penalty across countries. 
The Philippines ratified this international statute in 2007,” de Guia pointed 
out.

Hence, CHR reminded the government to uphold its international commitments and 
its mandate to respect and protect the human rights of the Filipino people.

CHR, however, said it still recognizes the government’s duty to stop the 
proliferation of illegal drugs.

“The Commission on Human Rights recognizes the need to address the sale and use 
of illegal drugs due to its ill effects to individuals, families, and our 
communities at large,” de Guia said.

(source: newsinfo.inquirer.net)








BANGLADESH:

Man handed death penalty for killing his father over a girl



A Mymensingh court has awarded death penalty to a man for killing his father 
for refusing to let him marry the girl of his choice.

Mymensingh Additional District and Second Sessions Judge’s Court Judge Md Nurul 
Amin Biplob announced the verdict Wednesday on the case started 14 years ago.

Convicted 38-year-old Shariatullah is the son of Ibrahim Khaliulla.

Shariatullah was present in court during the pronouncement of the verdict.

State prosecutor Rezaul Karim Khan said Shariatullah wanted to marry the girl 
of his choice. But his father did not permit him to do so. An infuriated 
Shariatullah fatally injured his father by attacking him with an axe on Mar 13, 
2005.

"His relatives first took him to a local health complex and later admitted him 
to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. But he passed away the next day,” said 
Rezaul.

Deceased Khaliulla’s other son Sadikullah filed a murder case at the Gafargaon 
Police Station. After investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against 
Shariatullah in court.

Lawyer Rezaul said after the completion of the hearing, the court declared 
Shariatullah guilty of the crime and sentenced him to death.

Shariatullah’s lawyer Sarkar Anwarul Kabir said he will appeal at the High 
Court against the verdict.

(source: bdnews24.com)