[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 3



IRAN:

Iran tycoon stands trial on corruption charges

.

Iran's state TV says the trial has begun for a well-known tycoon charged with 
corruption, fraud and money laundering.

Babak Zanjani, who was arrested in Dec. 2013 during a crackdown on alleged 
corruption during the rule of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could face 
the death penalty. The first hearing in Zanjani's trial was held on Saturday.

Iran's Oil Ministry says Zanjani owes more than 2 billion euros ($2.25 billion) 
for oil sales he made on behalf of Ahmadinejad's government.

Zanjani is one of Iran's wealthiest businessmen, with a fortune worth an 
estimated $14 billion. He was arrested shortly after the election of President 
Hassan Rouhani, who ordered a crackdown on alleged corruption during the 8-year 
rule of his hard-line predecessor.

(source: Associated Press)






BANGLADESH:

Mujahid to seek review of death penalty


Death-row war crimes convict Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid will file a review 
petition over his death verdict upheld by the top appeals court. Lawyers 
representing the Jamaat-e-Islami leader met him in the Dhaka Central Jail on 
Thursday. "He has instructed us to file a review petition," his lawyer Shishir 
Monir told reporters at the prison gate after a 30-minute meeting with Mujahid. 
The Supreme Court on Wednesday published the full verdict on the appeals that 
challenged the capital punishment of BNP Standing Committee Member Salauddin 
Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mujahid. They were then 
sent to the International Crimes Tribunal same day.

The tribunal on Thursday issued the death warrants for the 2 war criminals and 
sent them to the prison authorities. The warrants were then read out to 
Chowdhury and Mujahid setting the process for the execution of the 2 in motion. 
Both are guilty of crimes against humanity during Bangladesh's War of 
Independence in 1971. Mujahid, the social welfare minister in Khaleda Zia's 
BNP-Jamaat coalition Cabinet, planned and executed mass murders including those 
of intellectuals, scientists, academics and journalists in 1971.

The war crimes tribunal on July 17, 2013, ordered him to walk the gallows for 
the massacre of the intellectuals and involvement in the murder and torture of 
Hindus during the war. Out of the seven charges levelled against him, the 
tribunal had found him guilty on 5 counts. He was given the death penalty in 
the 1st, 6th and 7th charges. After he moved the Appellate Division against the 
verdict, the apex court on June 16 gave its verdict on Jamaat leader Mujahid, 
who was the former commander of Al-Badr, upholding the death penalty. He now 
has the option to file a petition for review of the verdict within 15 days, 
starting from Thursday.

He will not be executed before the resolution of the review petition, if filed.

Once the review petitions are resolved and if the death sentences are upheld, 
the war crimes convict can seek mercy from the president and meet family 
members.

If they are denied pardon or if they decline to appeal, the government will 
execute the convict in jail, according to bdnews24.com.

(source: The Financial Express)






UNITED NATIONS:

UN Human Rights Council adopts Belgian resolution on capital punishment


The Human Rights Council of the United Nations adopted a resolution submitted 
by Belgium and putting the question of the death penalty back on the 
international agenda on Thursday.

As a consequence of the resolution, a high level panel will meet to discuss the 
issue as early as 2017, and the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights will 
report on how capital punishment is carried out around the world, focussing in 
particular on the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment.

Belgium drafted the initial resolution supported by Benin, Costa Rica, France, 
Mexico, Mongolia, Moldova and Switzerland. 26 member countries on the Council 
voted in favour of the text, 13 against, including the US, China, India and 
Saudi Arabia. There were 8 abstentions, most notably Russia.

Foreign Secretary Didier Reynders welcomed the adoption of the Belgian 
initiative. "This is one more reason why our country should apply for a seat at 
the Human Rights Council for 2016-2018," suggests a press release from the 
office of the Foreign Secretary.

(source: The Brussels Times)