[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 9



SAUDI ARABIA----execution

Saudi beheads another Pakistani for drug trafficking


Saudi Arabia on Tuesday beheaded a Pakistani convicted of drug trafficking and 
one of its own citizens for murder, the interior ministry said.

Saudi Bandar Khalaf al-Enzi was found guilty of strangling a man to death 
during a dispute, the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state news 
agency.

He was executed in the north Hail region.

Pakistani Kamran Ghulam Abbas was executed in Khubar, in Eastern Province, 
after being convicted of smuggling a "large quantity of heroin," the ministry 
said in a separate statement.

The 2 beheadings bring to 48 the number of executions carried out in the desert 
kingdom this year, according to an AFP tally.

Human Rights Watch expressed alarm last month at a surge in executions, which 
saw 19 people beheaded between August 4 and 20 alone.

HRW said 8 of those executed had been convicted of non-violent offences such as 
drug trafficking and "sorcery", and described the use of the death penalty in 
their cases as "particularly egregious".

(source: Agence France Presse)

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

UN Rights Experts Urge Saudi Arabia To Halt Series Of Executions, Beheading


The United Nations independent experts on summary executions and torture on 
Tuesday renewed their call on Saudi Arabia to implement an immediate moratorium 
on the use of the death penalty amid a reported increase in executions, many of 
them by beheading.

"Beheading as a form of execution is cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and 
prohibited under international law under all circumstances," said Juan Mendez, 
the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading 
treatment or punishment. "Despite several calls by human rights bodies, Saudi 
Arabia continues to execute individuals with appalling regularity and in 
flagrant disregard of international law standards," said Christof Heyns, the UN 
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

"The trials are by all accounts grossly unfair. Defendants are often not 
allowed a lawyer and death sentences were imposed following confessions 
obtained under torture. The method of execution then aggravates a situation 
that is already totally unacceptable," they said.

So far in 2014, at least 45 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia. Between 
4 and 22 August, 22 people were executed, which represents an average of one 
execution per day. These included at least eight people beheaded in August for 
non-violent crimes including drug-smuggling and sorcery. Other offences 
resulting in beheading have reportedly included adultery and apostasy.

"The practice of beheading, especially after unfair trials for crimes that may 
not carry the death penalty under international law is shocking and grossly 
inappropriate," the experts said. They urged the authorities of Saudi Arabia to 
comply with international human rights standards.

They called on the government of Saudi Arabia to stop all executions, and in 
particular to cease immediately the use of beheadings or other such forms of 
execution that shock the conscience of humanity.

(source: RTT News)






PAKISTAN:

Convicted murderer: 1st civilian to hang in 6 years


A district and sessions judge has ordered the Adiala Jail superintendent to 
hang a murder convict on September 18.

Rawalpindi District and Sessions Judge Abdul Sattar had found Shoaib Sarwar 
guilty and awarded him a death sentence on July 2, 1998. Sarwar was accused of 
murdering Awais Nawaz on January 21, 1996 in Wah Cantt.

The Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench rejected the appeal to overturn the 
sessions court's verdict in July 2, 2003 and on April 3, 2006, the Supreme 
Court confirmed the sentence. The convict's plea for clemency was also denied 
by the presidency.

The victim's brother, Jamshed Nawaz, had moved the high court against the delay 
in implementing the court verdict despite exhaustion of all appeals by the 
convict. The high court ordered the district and sessions judge to implement 
the execution of the sentence.

Sarwar, who is imprisoned in Haripur, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, will be shifted to 
Adiala Jail next week. Jail sources say the family visitation is scheduled for 
September 17.

The convict's relatives have once again asked the president to overturn the 
sentence and are also trying to settle the issue through blood money.

There has been no execution of a civilian convict since 2008. Former President 
Asif Ali Zardari issued an unofficial moratorium on November 14, 2008 which 
expired on June 30, 2013. In between, a former army soldier was executed in 
Mianwali jail in 2012.

According to Amnesty International, there are more than 8,000 prisoners on 
death row in Pakistan.

(source: Pakistan Tribune)






VIETNAM:

Phuket Russian woman fights death-penalty drug charge in Vietnam


Friends and family of Phuket expat Maria Dapirka are fighting to prevent a 
possible death penalty for the Russian after she was arrested in Vietnam for 
attempting to smuggle in nearly 3 kilograms of cocaine in her carry-on luggage.

Ms Dapirka, 28, who had been living in Rawai, at the southern end of Phuket, 
was detained in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport on August 
23 after arriving on a flight from Singapore, reported The Voice of Vietnam.

Police found 2 nylon bags containing white powder, weighing 1.87kg, inside her 
hand luggage, and another 2 nylon bags of white powder, weighing 0.93kg, inside 
a magazine.

Later examinations found the white powder contained cocaine, the report said.

Under Vietnam law, Ms Dapirka could face the death penalty for drug 
trafficking, but relatives are hoping to prove that the woman was the victim of 
a gang of drug dealers from Nigeria, reported the Russian online newspaper 
Gazeta.

The family noted that Ms Dapirka had spoken about a man named Nick, who she had 
been living with in Thailand. The family alleged that Nick had given Ms Dapirka 
the bag full of drugs without her knowledge.

"Maria would not carry cocaine, she has always lived a strictly healthy 
lifestyle. She does not eat meat, does not smoke, does not drink, has always 
said that she thinks all of those things are really disgusting," Vadim Dapirka 
told the Gazeta.

Ms Dapirka's relatives reported that they have a picture of Nick, but are 
currently trying to track down his full name and current location.

Ms Dapirka's friends have also sent out pleas for help via social media 
websites.

One post by Julia Aleshina on Ms Dapirka's Facebook reads, "This is an appeal 
to all who communicated with Masha! If you know anything, if you were told 
something...if you know where and to whom she carried things, if you somehow 
can help. If you live in Thailand or Vietnam, write me, I will pass it to her 
relatives. We need your help! Any kind of help."

According to the family's statement to the Gazeta, Ms Dapirka is being held in 
a Vietnamese prison and does not have a lawyer to represent her.

Vadim Dapirka, Ms Dapirka's brother, told the Gazeta that the family had not 
heard from Ms Dapirka since August 23 and became worried, so they contacted the 
Consulate-General of the Russian Federation in Ho Chi Minh City.

"An answer from the Vietnamese came quickly, reporting that the Consul would 
meet with Maria on September 12," Mr Dapirka said.

Under Vietnamese law, any persons convicted of trafficking, illegally producing 
or carrying 100 grams or more of cocaine can be sentenced to death.

(source: Phuket Gazette)



IRAN:

Pastor Faces Death Sentence in Iran for "Spreading Corruption on the Earth"


An Iranian Christian pastor imprisoned for his faith now faces the death 
penalty after being officially charged with "spreading corruption on [the] 
Earth," according to Fox News.

Pastor Behnam Irani - who was sentenced to 6 years in prison in 2011 for his 
Christian activities - is being held in solitary confinement while suffering 
severe health problems, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas told BosNewsLife that they are deeply 
concerned by the new charges.

"The charges leveled against Pastor Irani and other Christians are tantamount 
to an indictment of Christianity itself and mark a renewed escalation in Iran's 
campaign against Persian Christians under the Rouhani presidency," Thomas said 
in a statement.

Although elected as a moderate, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani has overseen 
the oppression of any Christian community that has evangelized the Islamic 
state's Muslim population.

"There are a lot of people who are disgruntled with the government and many - 
for comfort and peace in their lives - are turning to Christianity," Jason 
DeMars, founder of Present Truth Ministries, told Fox News."

In Iran, the punishment for conversion away from Islam can carry the death 
penalty.

(source: Worthy News)






BANGLADESH:

2 get death sentence for murder in Bangladesh


A court in Bangladesh Tuesday sentenced 2 persons to death in connection with 
the murder of a man in 2006.

The special district and sessions court in Chittagong has ordered the death 
penalty for Didarul Alam Jasim, 50, and Jakir Hossain, 50, for killing one 
Shariful Alam in 2006, bdnews24.com reported.

Alam was a colleague of Hossain's wife Kawsara Begum at the Dohajari Rural 
Electrification Plant.

Hossain has been absconding since the beginning of the trial.

The court acquitted 3 other accused as the charges against them were not 
proven, said public prosecutor Jahangir Alam.

In 2006, the convicts first strangled and then stabbed Alam to death at 
Satkania Upazila's Kachhna Union over a monetary dispute.

(source: IANS)






MALAWI:

Malawi Muslims want death penalty


Barely a few days after President Pater Arthur Mutharika publicly declared 
"total war" against rising incidences of crime and theft in the country, the 
Muslim community has joined other sectors of the Malawi society in advocating 
for re-activation of capital punishment in the country's statues as a permanent 
deterrent to soaring levels of crime.

For so many years now, the country's security system has been polarized. This 
has led to an increase in mob justice.

Renowned academician, Dr.Imran Shareef, who is Secretary General of the supreme 
Muslim body, ULAMA Council of Malawi, a composition of Muslim scholars and 
theologians, observed laxity of laws about crime has worsened security 
situation in Malawi.

Shareef: There should be execution for offenders

"Ever since the adoption of the new political order in 1993, post - democratic 
governments in the country have not respected the constitution by not signing 
execution warrants for dangerous criminals who commit very serious crimes for 
fear of losing popularity. But this has fueled crime rate, which is even 
scaring prospective investors. Criminals have gone on the prowl killing and 
robbing violently without mercy," said Shareef.

Shareed added: "The rate of crime in Malawi has reached alarming and worrisome 
levels. Criminals are not afraid of being hanged, because there is lack of 
political will to sign death warrants. It is for this reason that we are 
pleading with those in authority to uphold this clause of the constitution in 
order to minimize rising levels of crime rate."

The head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the main 
constituent college of the University of Malawi, Chancellor said much as 
democracy has brought liberation to the country's citizenry, it has also 
brought its fair share of bad effects, which he said include freedoms which he 
claimed have afforded dangerous criminals opportunities to unleash terror on 
innocent people.

In 1993, after 3 decades of one party dominance in one of the world's most 
impoverished nations, Malawians decided in a referendum to revert to 
pluralistic politics. Since then, there have never been any executions of 
criminals sentenced to death by courts.

"Our stand as Muslims is that capital punishment should be enforced to ensure 
that this country is safe from criminals who are on the prowl. All sectors of 
the society are of the view that this clause of the constitution provides hope 
to this country which has now descended into almost state of lawlessness," said 
Shareef.

"During previous constitutional conferences, delegates from across all sectors 
of Malawi society protested against any attempts to have the clause removed, 
fearing that lawlessness would become a norm in the country. Therefore, by not 
signing any death warrants, besides breaking the law, our presidents are also 
going against the wishes of the people they are governing."

Former President of the Malawi Law Society (MLS) John Gift Mwakhwawa said 
although the last post democratic regimes in the country have avoided signing 
execution warrants, capital punishment was still legal in the country's 
statutes.

"Legally, capital punishment is still there in the Malawi Constitution, only 
that there has never any political will to sign death warrants for particular 
inmates on death row.

"The stand taken by the Muslim community and other sectors is highly 
commendable, but what they can do is to persuade the president to sign warrants 
so that offenders on death row could be executed," Mwakhwawa, said, however, 
adding that death penalty was not mandatory.

"Capital punishment was not mandatory. However, the courts could still impose 
it on offenders. But it is only up to the president to sign it or not."

Mwakhwawa added: "Using capital punishment to deter crime rate could only work 
if there is a political will to have it effected. But much as I agree that 
crime rate is on the rise in the country, but unless, there is a political will 
from a sitting president, there is no way capital punishment can be enforced.

"Our political leaders are afraid of losing popularity in the event that they 
sign death warrants, because in the past, capital punishment was associated 
with political repression, therefore no leader is ready to take this country 
back on this road."

Islam is the 2nd largest religion in the largely Christian dominated, but 
secular nation. It accounts for 36 % of the country's 16 million population.

Traditional leaders in the country who enjoy some semblance of influence in 
certain aspects of governance have also voiced out their concerns on the "soft 
stand" taken by political leaders over the years, to enforce some clauses of 
the law in the country's constitution.

"The absence of political will to sign death warrants has created a fertile 
ground for criminals to break the law at their own will. Malawians in the 
post-democratic era have not enjoyed maximum security, because criminals also 
claim to have right to life. It is regrettable that that we are in this 
situation, where in an attempt to score cheap political points, our political 
leaders just watch as our nation descend into anarchy," Senior Traditional 
leader, Mulumbe said.

Since 1993, there have been debates among individuals, religious and human 
rights organizations on whether to abolish death penalty or not. However calls 
for retention of the death penalty in the country's constitution have been 
deafening.

"Our message as Muslims to those in authority is that they should strive to 
uphold the constitution which they swore to protect and at the same time, they 
should respect the sanctity of life of those in the majority who are feeling 
the consequences of their lack of willingness to enforce death penalty for 
dangerous criminals," said Shareef.

(source: Nyasa Times)






INDIA:

Hours before execution, SC stays Koli death penalty


Death-row convict in the Nithari killings, Surinder Koli, got a fresh lease of 
life, with the Supreme Court on Monday staying his execution for a week, so as 
to enable him make a fresh appeal against the capital punishment.

A bench of Justices H L Dattu and Anil R Dave passed the stay order at 1.30 am 
on Monday on being informed that Koli may be executed in Meerut jail a few 
hours later. "Considering the urgency of the matter, we stay the execution of 
the death sentence of the applicant/petitioner for a period of one week from 
today," the bench said.

The plea was moved at 1 am before the bench by senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, 
who urged the bench to assemble urgently since the issue pertained to right to 
life of a person. Agreeing, the bench assembled and passed the restraining 
order. The stay order was also communicated to the jail authorities.

On July 24, the same bench had refused to stay the execution, while rejecting 
Koli's review petition against confirmation of his death penalty by the Supreme 
Court. The hearing of the review petition was done in chamber.

However, a week later, a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court passed a 
landmark verdict, ruling that review petition of convicts facing capital 
punishment warranted an open court hearing since the issue pertained to the 
right to life. The court also said all death row convicts whose review 
petitions had been rejected in chamber hearings, but their curative petitions 
were yet to be decided, could file their review petitions for open court 
hearings afresh.

The mercy plea of 42-year-old Kohli had recently been rejected by President 
Pranab Mukherjee. On September 2, the trial court had issued his death warrant.

Koli, who had killed children and chopped them into pieces in Nithari locality 
of Noida, Uttar Pradesh, was awarded death sentence by a trial court, which was 
upheld by the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court confirmed it in February 
2011 for the murder of a 14-year-old girl in 2005. Holding that Koli "appears 
to be the serial killer", the court had said, "No mercy can be shown to him."

A total of 16 cases were registered against Koli and his businessmen employer 
Moninder Singh Pandher (57) who was also sentenced to death in Rimpa Haldar 
case. But, Pandher was acquitted by the Allahabad High Court.

Of the 16 cases filed against Koli, he has been awarded death sentence in 4 of 
them. The others are still under trial.

(source: Indian Express)

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Bombay High Court upholds death penalty for rogue Pune bus driver who killed 9


The Bombay High court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence for the bus driver 
from Pune who had hijacked a state transport bus and mowed down 9 people 2 
years ago.

On January 25, 2012, Santosh Mane, 37, hijacked an empty state transport bus 
from the Swargate depot in Pune and sped off on the wrong side of the road 
catching oncoming traffic and people unawares. Mane rode for about 25 kms 
during which he rammed into moving and stationary vehicles and pedestrians. He 
was later nabbed by the police.

In December 2013, the sessions court at Pune had awarded Death penalty to Mane 
for mowing down nine persons and injuring 37 others in a road rage incident. 
After he was given the death sentence by a city court, he appealed to the 
Bombay High Court and lost his case today.

(source: Daily News & Analysis)