[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

March 21




UNITED KINGDOM/ETHIOPIA:

Andy Tsege: Britain helps fund Ethiopian regime holding UK activist on death 
row----The UK Government is using taxpayers' money to bolster the Ethiopian 
security forces responsible for the imprisonment of a 60-year-old Briton facing 
the death sentence, it can be revealed.


Human rights groups have condemned the British Government after using Freedom 
of Information laws to uncover the fact the UK is spending hundreds of 
thousands to fund a training centre run by the Ethiopian military.

Andargachew "Andy" Tsege was arrested in Yemen in June 2014, while en route to 
Africa from the Middle East. The whereabouts of the father of three, from 
London, were unknown until weeks later when it emerged he had been imprisoned 
in Ethiopia. A death sentence was passed against Mr Tsege - an opponent of the 
Ethiopian government who fled to Britain as a political refugee in 1979 - after 
a trial held in his absence 6 years ago.

His plight has been repeatedly raised with the Ethiopian government by British 
officials. But it has now emerged that the UK spent more than a million pounds 
subsidising security projects in Ethiopia while Mr Tsege has languished on 
death row.

The funding has been given by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the 
Ministry of Defence (MoD), through a Conflict, Security and Stabilisation Fund 
set up by the Government last year.

Half a million pounds has been spent on a master's degree programme in 
"security sector management" and 546,500 pounds has been given to the Ethiopian 
Peace Support Training Centre, according to an FCO response to a Freedom of 
Information request.

The UK Government refused to divulge details of a human rights risk assessment 
made prior to the funding being given, citing "the need to protect information 
that would be likely to prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and 
other states".

Mr Tsege's partner, Yemi Hailemariam, mother of their 3 children, told The 
Independent: "Since Andy's disappearance, our family has been in agony - all we 
want is for him to come home. It's deeply worrying to think that, throughout 
all this, the UK is supporting the same Ethiopian security apparatus that has 
detained Andy.

"We sincerely hope that the Foreign Office is using its close links to 
Ethiopia's government to secure Andy's release - rather than supporting his 
kidnappers."

Maya Foa, head of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said: "This funding 
raises potentially serious questions over the UK's approach to Ethiopia???s 
security forces - forces who were responsible for the kidnap and rendition to 
Ethiopia of British national Andy Tsege in June 2014."

Kevin Laue, legal advisor at the human rights charity Redress, said: "Instead 
of demanding his release and return, the UK Government appears to be bolstering 
the capacity of the Ethiopian security services - the very institution behind 
this continuing travesty of justice."

This comes amid mounting concern over the welfare of the 60-year-old father of 
3.

In an analysis of a transcript from a visit by British officials to Mr Tsege at 
Ethiopia's notorious Kaliti prison last December, Dr Ben Robinson, a 
psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, said the Briton's mental 
health "has declined precipitously since being detained in Ethiopia".

David Cameron is under increasing pressure to intervene. The Prime Minister is 
planning to visit Ethiopia later this month. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who 
is Mr Tsege's local MP, said: "I have written to the Prime Minister asking him 
to demand his unconditional release. It is completely unacceptable that a 
British citizen should be treated in this way by a state that purports to be a 
respected member of the international family of nations."

In a statement last night, a Government spokeswoman said: "The Foreign 
Secretary again raised Mr Tsege's case with the Ethiopian foreign minister, in 
person on 13 February, making it clear the way he has been treated is 
unacceptable.

They added: "Separately, we support training courses that are designed to give 
members of the Ethiopian military an improved range of skills in non-combat 
areas while they serve on regional peace missions that are vital to UK 
interests."

Background: 'Ethiopia's Mandela'

Andargachew "Andy" Tsege has been desecribed as Ethiopia's Nelson Mandela by 
campaigners and suporters, including Clive Stafford-Smith, the director of 
Reprieve.

The head of an opposition movement called Ginbot 7, he came to Britain as a 
political refugee in 1979. In June 2014, while he was on route from Dubai to 
Eritrea, he disappeared during a stopover in Sanaa, Yemen. 2 weeks later, it 
emerged that he had been arrested by the Yemeni authorities on the basis of a 
security agreement between Yemen and Ethiopia. Mr Tsege had been transferred to 
Ethiopia, and remains in prison there.

6 years ago, at a trial held in his absence, Mr Tsege was given sentenced to 
death for allegedly plotting a coup and planning to kill Ethiopian officials - 
claims he has denied.

(source: The Independent)






SOMALIA:

Somali Female Journalist Killers Sentenced to Death


2 Al shabaab members who have been convicted of murdering a female Somali 
journalist have been sentenced to death by the military tribunal of Somalia on 
Sunday.

Liban Ali Yarow, the chief of Somali military court said evidence brought in 
support of the case showed that they had execution role of Hinda Hajji Mohamed, 
female journalist killed in car bomb on 3rd December, 2015.

Hinda who worked for the state media has been killed in a bomb attached under 
the seat of her private car which exploded out Turkish embassy building in 
Mogadishu's KM4 area.

Abdirisack Mohamed Barrow, 28, and Hassan Nur Ali Farah, 37, were sentenced to 
death penalty, after the court has found them guilty of all charges against 
them, according to Judge Yarow who announced the verdict.

4 other co-conspirators have been sentenced to jail terms, 2 of them life in 
imprisonment by the Somali military tribunal for their role of the journalist 
murdering.

1 - Mo'allin Mohmed Abukar Ali, 42, born in middle Shabelle region of southern 
Somalia was sentenced to life time jail.

2 - Mo'alin Mohamed Sheikh Yusuf, 56, born in Mudug region, central Somalia has 
been sentenced to life in prison.

3 - Ali Hassan Aden Tooni, 40, born in Ethiopia was sentenced to 15 years in 
prison.

4 - Muheyadin Osman Mohamed Awale, 22, was sentenced to 10 years of prison 
term.

Early this month, the court has sentenced Hassan Hanafi, Al shabaab journalist 
to death for planning the deaths of 5 media workers who were killed in 
Mogadishu between 2007 and 2011.

(source: All Africa News)






BANGLADESH:

B'desh SC orders ministers to appear again in contempt case


Bangladesh Supreme Court Sunday ordered 2 senior ministers to reappear next 
week over their "contemptuous comments" against the judiciary made in reference 
to the appeal hearing of a major 1971 war crimes convict.

A larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha 
rebuked food minister Quamrul Islam and liberation war affairs minister AKM 
Mozammel Huq over their comments and ordered Islam to submit a fresh 
explanation, calling his clarification 'not appropriate', court officials said.

"This (apex) court will not hesitate to pass any order for protecting the 
constitution, caring little how much powerful you (ministers) are," a visibly 
angry Chief justice said.

Sinha added: "This court is not an organ of the government... You have not only 
belittled the chief justice but also defamed the entire judiciary with your 
arrogant comments."

Earlier today, the 2 ministers submitted their explanation over the comments 
and sought unconditional apology. The apex court accepted Huq's clarification 
but ordered his appearance again along with Islam on March 27.

In an unprecedented move on March 8, the Supreme Court had summoned the 2 
senior ministers to clarify their "contemptuous comments" criticising Sinha 
over the appeal hearing of a major 1971 war crimes convict, Jamaat-e-Islami 
leader Mir Qashem Ali.

The apex court on the same day upheld Ali's death penalty and ordered the two 
ministers personal appearance.

Speaking at a discussion on March 5, Islam had called for a re-hearing of Ali's 
appeal excluding the chief justice as he had earlier questioned the 
investigators efficiency in collecting evidence against the accused.

"Through a comment of the chief justice in the court, we have realised what 
verdict will be delivered in the case. We have realised that there is no scope 
for awarding the death penalty (to the convict)," the food minister had said.

Haque supplemented him at the same function saying the chief justice should not 
be a part of the appeal hearing process against Ali.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had last week snubbed the 2 ministers for 
"embarrassing" the government through their comments and said the government 
did not own their "private comments".

(source: Business Standard)






PAKISTAN:

Tensions rise over Asia Bibi


Demands for Asia Bibi's execution are rising in Pakistan after the execution of 
an Islamic militant hero, Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) reports. Extremist 
Mumtaz Qadri was executed on February 29, 2016, after assassinating Punjab 
Govenor Salmaan Taseer in 2011. Taseer was one of Bibi's biggest supporters, 
ridiculing Pakistan's blasphemy laws, under which she is being held, and 
advocated for her release.

Qadri was seen as a hero among Islamic militants. When he was executed, 
explosive demands for Bibi's hanging started. Intelligence reports have found 
Islamist groups plotting to have her killed in jail for vengeance. At Qadri's 
funeral, a group of about 150,000 supporters gathered on the streets of 
Rawalpindi. Many were chanting for Bibi's death.

The Express Tribune cites a statement from Islamabad's Lal Masjid who called on 
the government to kill "the blasphemer Asia Bibi as soon as possible and not 
bow to international pressure."

VOMC reports the government is keeping her safe despite the calls for her quick 
execution. Security has been tightened, Bibi is in isolation and is cooking her 
own food so no one can poison her food. The guards keeping watch have been 
assessed by intelligence agencies to make sure they are not extremists.

"Calls for her speedy execution have increased the risk to her life," says 
Bibi's lawyer, Saiful Malook, who expressed concern over her safety.

As demands rise, Bibi desperately needs prayer. Pray for her safety, for her 
faith in Christ to stay strong, and for her family's trust in God to stay 
strong. Also pray for the protests to stop.

Bibi was found guilty for blasphemy in 2010 after an argument with a Muslim 
woman who accused her of contamination of water by drinking out of it. 
Blasphemy is not a subject taken lightly by the Pakistani government who 
sentences those who are guilty to the death penalty. Bibi has been on death row 
since her conviction.

(source: Mission Network News)






MALDIVES:

Maldives prosecutors defend death sentence on MP murderer


Prosecutors defended the death sentence handed to Hussain Humam over the brutal 
murder of former Ungoofaru MP Dr Afrasheem Ali, as the Supreme Court began 
Monday the last stage of appeal in the high profile murder case.

Humam was found guilty of the MP's murder and sentenced to death in January 
2015. He later appealed the sentence.

High Court had on September 7 upheld the death sentence handed to Humam.

The prosecutor general's (PG) office had in November forwarded the case to the 
Supreme Court to initiate the final stage of appeal after Humam failed to 
appeal the sentence against him within the appeal window.

? Regulations on death penalty that came into effect in 2014 require the 
prosecution to exhaust the appeal process -- the High Court and Supreme Court 
-- even if the convict wishes to not file for appeal.

In the 1st appeal hearing Monday, prosecutors told the Supreme Court that 
sentence is in line with all the requirements of the death penalty under 
Islamic sharia law.

The court asked the prosecution to provide a point-by-point detail of their 
argument, but gave time till the next hearing to prepare it.

Defence lawyer Abdulla Haseen, meanwhile, told the court that he had not yet 
received the full report of the verdict from the High Court.

Chief justice Abdulla Saeed, who is heading the bench presiding over the 1st 
case of its kind, told Haseen that it was his responsibility to obtain the 
report from the High Court.

A request by Haseen for more time to prepare his defence was also denied.

Humam, clad in prison uniform, was escorted to Monday's hearing by prison 
guards. He, however, did not speak.

Afrasheem was found brutally stabbed to death on the stairway of his apartment 
building in October 2012.

Criminal Court had acquitted Ali Shan of Hicoast in Henveyru district of 
Afrasheem's murder.

There are around 10 people on death row at present, but none of whom has 
exhausted the appeal process thus far. If Humam's sentence is upheld by the 
apex court, he would be the 1st of the inmates on death row to have completed 
all the 2 stages of appeal.

Authorities had pledged to implement the death penalty after the exhaustion of 
the appeal process.

(source: haveeru.com)