[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 21



INDIA:

Let BJP seek death penalty for killers of hundreds of Kashmiris: Er Rashid


President Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) and MLA Langate Er Rasheed has condemned 
BJP for bringing resolution in the assembly seeking death penalty for cow 
slaughters and asked PDP and Peoples Conference to end their already exposed 
unholy alliance with BJP.

In a statement, Er Rasheed arned BJP to restrain from spreading communal hatred 
in the state. Er Rasheed said. "Kashmiris Muslims have never been communal and 
will never interfere into religious affairs of devotees of other religions, but 
it is BJP who despite being in power in centre, talks communal, objectionable, 
unnatural and irresponsible things. BJP forgets that nobody can thrust his 
dictation on devotees of any community pertaining to religious affairs. How 
could slaughtering a cow amount to hurting sentiments of Hindus, if cow like 
other bovine animals is a pet animal and there is no restriction that should 
have a cow at his home.

If BJP and its allies have so respect for the cows and other bovine animals 
they should not wear shoes or use any leather products."

Er Rasheed asked BJP to restrain from hurting sentiments for Muslims in and 
outside assembly and added. "If BJP is so keen about giving death penalty to 
cow slaughters then as humans they should have highest respect for human rights 
and human lives. BJP must start a campaign to hang all those state actors in 
uniform who slaughtered hundreds of Kashmiris from Pathribal to Machil and 
elsewhere and also committed heinous crimes in every nook and corner of state 
in the name of so called national interest. Let BJP explain that if cow 
slaughtering hurts them more than Kashmiris getting slaughtered? Do they have 
more respect towards rights of humans irrespective of cast, creed and religion 
as compared to pet animals? Isn???t it hypocrisy on behalf of BJP that while 
they eat meat of many other animals but care only about cows.

Before seeking death penalty for cow slaughtering, BJP must withdraw from the 
coalition as its government failed to save life of even 3 year old Burhan." Er 
Rasheed asked PDP and Sajad Lone to respect sentiments of their voters and 
restrain from becoming proxies and collaborators of fascist Hindu radicals who 
have now expanded their anti Muslim agenda and are directly hurting sentiments 
of Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.

(source: Rising Kashmir)






IRAN----execution

Official Sources in Iran: 1 Execution in the Northeast, 2 in the Northwest

On the morning of Saturday September 19, 2 prisoners with drug related charges 
were hanged to death by Iranian authorities in Lakan Prison (also known as 
Rasht Central Prison), according to the press department of the Judiciary in 
Gilan. The report identfies 1 of the prisoners as H.M., 45 years old, charged 
with participating in the trafficking of 1 Kilogram and 5 Grams of crystal 
meth. The other prisoner is identified as Sh.P., 46 years old, charged with 
participating in the trafficking of one Kilogram of crystal meth, sentenced to 
death by the Revolutionary Court in Rasht.

In a report published over the weekend, Iran state media Khorassan News 
mentions the execution of one prisoner in Bojnord (the capital city of North 
Khorasan). The prisoner was reportedly hanged to death by Iranian authorities 
for murdering a family member with a gun; however, the report does not include 
any information on the prisoner's identity or the date and location of the 
execution (prison or public).

(source: iran Human Rights)






SAUDI ARABIA:

Saudi Arabia to Crucify Protester Arrested at 17 Years Old


A man named Ali Mohammed al-Nimr is set to be crucified in Saudi Arabia for his 
participation in anti-government protests, which he engaged in back in 2012, 
when he was 17 years old.

Aside from the crime of demonstration, al-Nimr has also been accused of 
illegally possessing firearms.

Many suspect that the now-21-year-old is being targeted with such harsh 
punishment due to his familial ties. His uncle is Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a well 
known religious leader and human rights activist, who, like his nephew, was 
sentenced to death in 2014. The International Business Times reports that 
Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was jailed and sentenced to death for speeches he made 
against Saudi Arabia's ruling House of Saud dynasty.

The Saudi government has recently dismissed Al-Nimr's final appeal, which was 
held in secret. There are no more legal routes of objection to his impending 
crucifixion.

The Middle East Monitor reports that Maya Foa, the director of the death 
penalty team at the human rights charity group Reprieve, has condemned the 
situation that the Saudi government has placed Al-Nimr under, saying, "No one 
should have to go through the ordeal Ali has suffered - torture, forced 
'confession,' and an unfair, secret trial process, resulting in a sentence of 
death by 'crucifixion.'"

"Ali was a vulnerable child when he was arrested and this ordeal began," said 
Foa, "His execution - based apparently on the authorities' dislike for his 
uncle, and his involvement in anti-government protests - would violate 
international law and the most basic standards of decency. It must be stopped."

Advocates for al-Nimr are now calling on the British government to pressure 
Saudi Arabia to block the execution. Amnesty International is asking concerned 
people to write in and request that Saudi authorities quash al-Nimr's 
conviction, as well as his death sentence, and ensure that he receives a fair 
trial in line with international law and standards.

(source: Latin Post)

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

Saudi Arabia to head UN human rights panel; Twitterati criticise move citing 
beheadings, Raif Badawai flogging


The United Nations has appointed an official from Saudi Arabia to head a panel 
on human rights, inviting global criticism for ignoring the kingdom's poor 
human rights record.

Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Geneva Faisal bin Hassan Trad will head the UN 
Human Rights Council, which works on setting human rights standards globally.

The move comes even after Saudi Arabia strongly rejected the UN 
secretary-general's plea to scrap the death penalty.

Saudi Arabia has already executed more than 130 people till September this year 
at a rate of nearly 1 execution every 2nd day.

Saudi Arabia's human rights record is often compared to that of the Islamic 
State, given that it practices beheading and crucifixion and even amputation as 
forms of punishment.

"It is scandalous that the UN chose a country that has beheaded more people 
this year than ISIS to be head of a key human rights panel," UN Watch executive 
director Hillel Neuer said on the NGOwebsite.

Twitterati vented harsh criticism against the United Nations for choosing a 
Saudi representative to head its human rights panel, especially amidst outrage 
over itspunishment to blogger Raif Badawai and the scheduled execution of Ali 
Mohammed al-Nimr, who was 17 years old when he was arrested for joining 
anti-government protests.

(source: International Business Times)



NEW ZEALAND:

NZ urged to push for abolition of death penalty


A call for New Zealand to toughen up on the international use of the death 
penalty is being welcomed by at least 1 politician.

2 leading Australian experts are at Parliament today, hoping to persuade the 
Government to use its influence to try to stop the use of capital punishment.

United Future leader Peter Dunne is meeting them.

He said New Zealand should be using its UN Security Council seat to push for 
the change.

Mr Dunne said he saw the practice as reprehensible, and New Zealand should not 
be scared of asking allies such as the United States and China to stop.

(source: New Zealand Herald)






TRINIDAD:

Death penalty debate 'unsolvable'


Even if there is meaningful debate on the death penalty, the conundrum 
legislators face on whether to abolish it will never be solved, vice-president 
of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) Sophia Chote, SC, has said.

At the opening of the new law term last Wednesday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie 
called for serious and meaningful discussion on the death penalty, saying he 
believed hanging convicted murderers would not solve crime.

On the issue of whether it should be abolished, although no convicted murderer 
has been executed since the 1999 hangings of drug kingpin Dole Chadee, his gang 
of 8 and Anthony Briggs, both the CBA and the Law Association (LATT) revealed 
that they had no definite position on the death penalty and had not discussed 
the issue.

In a telephone interview on Friday, Chote said, "I don't think this is an issue 
that is ever going to be put to rest because its very nature depends on 
people's individual consciences. In the United Kingdom where the death penalty 
has been abolished for many years, there is still debate on whether they should 
reintroduce it or whether they should have abolished it at all. No 
philosophical matter is ever put to rest."

But in giving her personal view as a seasoned criminal attorney, Chote said the 
death penalty was not a deterrent to crime and there were alternative forms of 
punishment. She suggested that convicted murderers who have the potential or 
request rehabilitation could be enrolled in the various prisoner transformation 
programmes.

Asked if she believed convicted murderers should ever walk the streets again, 
she said, "There are different kinds of crimes and there are different kinds of 
offenders. To paint someone with a broad brush and say once a life has been 
taken it must be that another life must be taken, I think it is unfair and 
arbitrary."

Recalling that in previous consultations it was suggested that killings be 
categorised, she said the new Government could look at bringing those 
legislations.

LATT president Reginald Armour, SC, said he supported Archie's call for T&T to 
take a commonsense approach to the issues affecting the administration of 
justice and the death penalty. However, he said, he would not speak on behalf 
of the LATT because of his personal views.

"I have not discussed it with members of council and I would not want to say 
anything that represents the views of the individual members of the council on 
what is admittedly a controversial subject," Armour said.

NGO support

Supporting Chote's advocacy against capital punishment, founding member of the 
Network of NGOs of T&T for the Advancement of Women Hazel Brown said they had 
always supported the abolishment of the death penalty.

Brown said hanging was inhumane and would not deter criminals. She said 
discussions on the overall improvement of the justice system were needed and 
the death penalty, along with proper systems to deal with women and juvenile 
prisoners, should be addressed.

"What we first have to agree on is the need for an overall reform and 
improvement of the justice system, including the juvenile justice system. If 
you think the regular justice system is unfair and unjust, for children - boys 
and girls - it is even worse.

"We as a society should determine where our humanity is expressed and the best 
place for it is in a justice system. The discussion has to be about the justice 
system generally and just pull out the hangings which is a very emotive 
subject. This should include women's and children's issues as well," Brown 
said.

(ssource: The Guardian)






CHINA:

New rule to help lawyers assert rights----Protections cover meetings with their 
clients, viewing of court records, gathering evidence


Several national authorities jointly issued a rule on Sunday designed to ensure 
that lawyers are not impeded in their practices. It also prohibits public 
statements designed to manipulate public opinion or pressure law enforcement.

The rule- announced by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's 
Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security 
and the Ministry of Justice - says that law enforcement authorities should 
fully guarantee lawyers' rights, including the right to get information, the 
right to petition and other professional rights.

Lawyers' requests to meet with clients should be fulfilled within 48 hours, 
except in cases involving State security, terrorism or major corruption; and 
prosecutors and police should listen to lawyers' opinions before concluding 
their investigations, as well as during death penalty reviews by the Supreme 
Court, the rule said.

The top authorities have said they want to improve mechanisms for lawyers and 
to establish a group of highly trained professional lawyers nationally to 
implement law-based governance.

The Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, chaired by President Xi 
Jinping, adopted guidelines applying to the legal profession on Sept 15.

China has about 270,000 lawyers.

Zhou Qiang, China's top judge, highlighted the role of lawyers in the legal 
community in August, saying attorneys' rights, including reading case materials 
and obtaining evidence, must be protected.

"If lawyers are in danger during a trial, judges and court police should act to 
protect them," Zhou said.

Last week, a provincial guideline governing lawyers working on major cases 
aroused controversy.

The Shaanxi Lawyers Association issued a guideline to regulate lawyers' 
behavior on major and sensitive cases, requiring that lawyers report to the 
local judicial department or lawyers association within three working days of 
accepting major or sensitive cases, or cases involving mass incidents.

The regulation also bans lawyers from publicizing their opinions, including 
posting messages online or manipulating public opinion to pressure law 
enforcement.

That guideline raised concerns among lawyers, who saw it as a gag order.

Si Weijiang, a lawyer based in Shanghai, said the order of silence for lawyers 
who are not directly involved in a case violates the right of free speech.

There should be little concern, Si said, because only lawyers with expertise 
would be commenting; ordinary people wouldn't make professional comments.

However, an official from the Ministry of Justice who asked to remain 
anonymous, said the regulation had been misinterpreted.

"To a certain point, the guidelines are necessary to manage lawyers' behavior 
according to the law and ensure that lawyers respect professional ethics when 
dealing with major and sensitive cases," he said.

The professional level of lawyers across the country varies, and some poorly 
practiced lawyers have severely harmed clients' rights and hindered justice, 
the official said, adding that the guidelines help ensure that justice is 
served.

(source: ECNS)