[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 5




UNITED KINGDOM/ETHIOPIA:

UK Refused Access to British Father 'in Fear for His Life' on Ethiopia's Death 
Row


The British Foreign Office (FCO) has failed for a week to confirm the safety 
and wellbeing of a British father held on death row in Ethiopia, despite having 
received reports last weekend that his life was in danger.

Last Saturday (28th), the family of Andargachew 'Andy' Tsege, from London, were 
told by British officials in Ethiopia that Mr Tsege had indicated that he was 
'in fear for his life', following disturbances at the prison where he is held. 
Mr Tsege has been imprisoned unlawfully in Ethiopia since 2014, when he was 
kidnapped at an international airport and rendered to the country. He is held 
under an illegal sentence of death, which was imposed in absentia in 2009 in 
relation to his vocal criticisms of Ethiopia's ruling party.

Concerns for Mr Tsege's wellbeing have been growing this week, after the 
Foreign Office indicated to Mr Tsege's family that it has been unable to 
establish consular access to him to check on his wellbeing. Yesterday, Minister 
Tobias Ellwood said in a written statement to MPs that the FCO had not seen Mr 
Tsege since August this year - an admission which appeared to contradict a 
recent claim by the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, that "regular consular 
access" was "now in place."

The latest concerns for Mr Tsege come amid criticism of the Government's 
approach to his case. The FCO has focused recently on requesting legal access 
for Mr Tsege - a request which the Ethiopian Prime Minister promised to honour 
in June this year, but has since reneged upon. International human rights 
organisation Reprieve - which is assisting Mr Tsege - has argued that 
requesting legal access is ineffectual, because the Ethiopian Government has 
already stated that there is no legal route by which Mr Tsege will be allowed 
to challenge his death sentence. Reprieve has asked the UK Government to 
request Mr Tsege's return home to his family in Britain, but the FCO has 
refused to do so.

Torture is common in Ethiopian prisons, and experts such as the UN Special 
Rapporteur on Torture have previously expressed concerns about Mr Tsege's 
wellbeing. Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee is currently monitoring Mr 
Tsege's case as part of an ongoing inquiry into the FCO's human rights work 
overseas.

Commenting, Maya Foa, a director at Reprieve, said: "It's shocking that Andy 
could be in mortal danger, and yet British officials - who haven't seen him 
since August - seem unable or unwilling to check that he is alive and well. 
Andy's partner and children in London are sick with worry for him, and their 
concerns are worsening with every hour that passes. Andy has already suffered a 
catalogue of abuses - from an unlawful in absentia death sentence, to kidnap, 
rendition, torture, and over 2 years' illegal detention. Andy is now in fear 
for his life - what more will it take for the British government to stop 
cowtowing to the Ethiopians, stand up for the rights of this innocent British 
father of 3, and secure his return home to his family in London?"

Reprieve is a UK-based human rights organization that uses the law to enforce 
the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantanamo Bay.

(source: commondreams.org)






MYANMAR:

Rohingya may face 'death penalty' over Myanmar murders----74 suspects held on 
remand face several charges under Counter-Terrorism Laws and Penal Code, which 
carry the death penalty


A total of 113 people have now been arrested for alleged involvement in last 
month's attacks in Myanmar's western Rakhine State, some of whom could face the 
death penalty.

9 border police officials were killed and dozens of weapons and thousands of 
rounds of ammunition were stolen Oct. 9. when around 400 armed men attacked 3 
police station outposts in Maungdaw and Yathay Taung Townships.

Myanmar troops have since been searching Muslim villages -- the area is 
predominantly occupied by the country's stateless Rohingya population -- for 
the assailants and stolen weapons.

On Saturday, Min Aung, a spokesperson for Rakhine's regional government, told 
Anadolu Agency that troops had arrested 113 suspects during the area clearance 
operations.

"39 of them have been released after being found to have had no role in the 
attacks," he said, and 74 suspects have been held on remand.

"They are now under interrogation."

According to a police official in Yangon, the suspects face several charges 
under Counter-Terrorism Laws and the country's Penal Code.

"They probably face the death penalty," said the officer, who asked not to be 
named as he was not authorised to talk to media.

Although some sections of Myanmar's penal code carry the death penalty, in most 
recent cases it has been commuted to a life sentence.

The military's ongoing clearance operations have generated reports of 
widespread abuse.

In the past week, top diplomats and a United Nations official who visited the 
area called on the government for a credible and independent probe into the 
fatal attacks, along with allegations that Myanmar soldiers subsequently killed 
and raped Rohingya women.

On Friday, U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar Renata 
Lok-Dessallien told a press briefing in commercial capital Yangon that a probe 
independent of political pressure was needed.

"We are not there to investigate," she said of a the UN-led 10-member 
delegation, which has been visiting Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships -- the 2 
areas under military lockdown since the attacks.

"The visit is just the 1st step towards broader access. For a clear picture of 
the situation in the area, we urge the government to launch credible and 
independent investigations into the attacks and consequences."

Lok-Dessallien added that authorities had assured that aid would resume in the 
townships in "1 or 2 days".

(source: aa.com.tr)






SRI LANKA:

Duminda seeks SC remedy to accelerate appeal process in death penalty


Former Defence Ministry Monitoring MP Duminda Silva sentenced to death by the 
Colombo High Court for committing the murder of four persons including former 
MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra yesterday sought the Supreme Court's remedy 
to accelerate the appeal process in the death penalty.

Taking into consideration the facts, the Supreme Court ordered the Registrar of 
the Colombo High Court to expedite the process of compiling documents 
pertaining to the appeal filed by the former MP challenging the judgement of 
the Colombo High Court.

At a previous occasion, the attorneys appearing on behalf Silva filed an appeal 
before the Colombo High Court's registrar office challenging the judgement of 
the Colombo High Court. This appeal is to be referred to the Supreme Court and 
the matter to be heard before a 5-Judge-Bench of the Supreme Court in the due 
course.

President's Counsel Anil de Silva appearing on behalf Silva, the 11th accused 
in the murder case filed an acceleration petition in the Supreme Court 
requesting that the hearing on the appeal filed by his client be accelerated on 
medical grounds.

He informed Court that his client will have to wait at least 3 or 4 years if it 
allows to proceed with the ordinary process due to the volume of the appeal 
brief.

President's Counsel Silva said his client's health condition is deteriorating 
day-by-day as his received serious gun shot injuries to his head during the 
confrontation.

He further said Duminda Silva under went several surgical operations at Mount 
Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Taking into consideration the facts, the 3-Judge-Bench comprising Justice 
Priyasath Dep, Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare and Justice Nalin Perera ordered the 
Registrar of the Colombo High Court to expedite the process of compiling 
documents pertaining to the appeal.

Through his appeal, Duminda Silva stated that he was seeking the jurisdiction 
of Supreme Court to review and set aside their conviction and the death 
sentence imposed by High Court on September 8.

The 5 accused including former MP Duminda Silva were on September 8 sentenced 
to death by Colombo High Court for committing the murder of 4 persons including 
former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra on October 8, 2011.

However, the verdict was divided 2 to 1 with judges Pathmini N.Ranawaka and 
M.C.B.S. Moreis finding 5 accused guilty for 10 charges including committing 
and conspiring to commit murder of 4 people while Justice Shiran Gunaratne the 
President of Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar found the 13 accused not guilty of 
all 17 charges.

(source: dailynews.lk)






IRAN:

Gulf Study Exposes Systematic Executions in Iran, a Mechanism to Protect an 
Oppressive Regime


A Gulf-prepared paper exposed earth-shattering statistics on the systematic 
executions carried out in Iran since the rise of the cleric regime in 1979.

Iran's theocratic regime, founded by Ruhollah Khomeini, has long enforced law 
through the brutal excess of capital punishment served to a poor and oppressed 
public. The cleric-led regime thrived as it offsets leftist activists and 
mindsets with the death penalty.

The Arabian Gulf Center for Iranian Studies published paper suggests that the 
ongoing vicious circle of 37 years' worth of executions had spawned along with 
the so-called Islamic revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty.

Most of the documented death penalties have been served to political activists 
and any opposition that attempts to rise against the regime - capital 
punishment is being handed out in Iran on the account of charges on fighting 
Islamic rule, conspiring against national security and corruption. Allegations 
are chiefly framed against any political opposition.

As the odds play out in a better favor of Rouhani being elected for a 2nd term, 
the study expected that the policy on death penalty with continue worsening the 
current standing of oppression in Iran.

Policymaking in Iran is not within the president's jurisdiction but remains a 
power saved for the national Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The pro-Shi'ite 
hardline system will resume death sentences in an intensifying fashion against 
Sunni citizens, overlooking international and local protests and condemnations.

The study prepared by Dr. Abdel Raouf Mostafa Jalal Hassan says that the 
political mechanism running Iran is self-sustaining at any cost, censorship, 
arbitrary arrests and executions all are systematic policies used to nourish 
and uphold the instated theocracy.

The only justification put forth by the regime is that the inhumane policy of 
self-sustenance is implemented to counteract the efforts of pro-imperialism 
moles attempting to infiltrate the Iran system - even though it is acknowledged 
that the West powers (Iran-labeled imperialist) had greatly aided the Khomeini 
1979 revolution to its power grab and toppling of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.

As the Khomeini-founded regime further bolstered its institutional position in 
the 80???s, the second phase of targeting and zeroing in on any opposition 
launched with waves of deportation, executions and detentions against 
activists.

Among the groups oppressed by the Iran regime for holding a different belief 
system or ideology, are the People's Mujahedin of Iran, the Arab people of 
Ahwaz and the people of Baluchistan, Kurds and those who are believers in the 
Baha'i Faith.

In 1988, Khomeini issued a fatwa, a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a 
recognized authority, which endorsed all death sentences against People's 
Mujahedin of Iran (also known as the MEK) activists.

Issued shortly after the end of the Iran-Iraq war in July 1988 and an incursion 
into western Iran by the Iranian resistance, the fatwa reads: "It is decreed 
that those who are in prisons throughout the country and remain steadfast in 
their support for the Monafeqin (Mojahedin) are waging war on God and are 
condemned to execution."

Children as young as 13 were hanged from cranes, 6 at a time, in a barbaric 
2-month purge of Iran's prisons on the direct orders of Ayatollah Khomeini.

More than 30,000 political prisoners were executed in the 1988 massacre - a far 
larger number than previously suspected. Secret documents smuggled out of Iran 
reveal that, because of the large numbers of necks to be broken, prisoners were 
loaded onto forklift trucks in groups of 6 and hanged from cranes in 
half-hourly intervals.

Most of the MEK hanged activists were accused of conspiring with Iraq's Saddam 
Hussein in the Iran - Iraq war, and their separatists aspirations.

(source: aawsat.com)






OMAN:

Khat smugglers could face life sentence or death penalty in Oman


Khat smugglers may face life sentences or the death penalty if they are caught 
by the Royal Oman Police, warned the Director General of Narcotics Control.

A senior official at the ROP said that there has been an increase in khat 
smuggling in the Sultanate and the warning comes in light of the rise.

According to the ROP, 27 cases were registered against 58 people involved in 
the khat trade since the beginning of the year until October 2016, and 10,240 
bundles of the herbal high were seized. During the same period 18 smuggling 
attempts were foiled and 2,560 kilogrammes were seized.

Those numbers are up on last year, according to police, prompting the renewed 
warning that the death penalty is available in cases of smuggling.

Under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law issued by the ROP, khat 
smugglers and traders could suffer severe punishments which could go as far as 
being sentenced to life in prison or execution. There is also the option of a 
fine of OMR 50,000.

Khat users would also face up to 3 years in prison as well as a fine of up to 
OMR3,000.

The Director General of Narcotics Control, Colonel Abulrahim Qassim Al Farsi, 
said, "Using khat creates a health hazard and it is no less dangerous than any 
other drug which affects mental and physical health.

"These types of poisons give the illusion that the user is more active and it 
is nothing more than a synthetic feeling and far from reality. Khat users will 
feel lazy and drowsy as well as insomniac."

He added that they will also be more moody, angry and hostile, especially 
towards relatives.

Impact on health

"There are many health effects from khat such as schizophrenia and sudden heart 
attacks from the rapid hard beats, as well as damaging the digestive system 
from prolonged usage in the mouth, lips, gums and tongue," said Col. Al Farsi.

"Loss of appetite, liver infections, urinary tract infections and erectile 
dysfunction are among the effects. Health reports also suggest that mouth 
cancer can be a result of using khat," added Col. Al Farsi.

(source: The Times of Oman)






SAUDI ARABIA:

2 Malayalis awarded death penalty get Saudi king's pardon


2 Malayalis in Saudi Arabia who were on death row for murdering another 
Keralite, were pardoned by the Saudi king. Shaji Sedhumadhavan of Vazhikadavu 
near Nilambur and his accomplice Abdul Rasaq of Irikkur in Kannur were arrested 
by the police for murdering Senmon Joseph of Mylapra in Pathanamthitta on March 
7, 2008.

. Joseph, who was working as a salesman in Saudi Seafood Company , was on his 
way to Jizan with a large sum of cash, when he was killed by the accused. Both 
were known to Joseph and had accompanied him in his van and murdered him before 
decamping with SR10,000. They were nabbed by the Saudi police and a local court 
in Abha awarded death penalty to Sedhumadhavan while Rasaq was sentenced to 17 
years in prison and 3,000 lashes.

. Relatives of both the ac cused managed to arrange blood money to pay up as 
compensation to the family of the victim. They handed over about SR 3,05,000 to 
Sedhumadhavan's kin who forgave them in exchange for the money. However, the 
prosecution moved a higher court challenging the move to release the killers. 
The lawyers pointed out that the offence compromised the country's internal 
security and the court ordered to execute both the accused. In a last ditch at 
tempt the accused filed a mercy petition before the king who ordered for their 
release. Ending 8 years of uncertainty, both of them have been shifted to a 
deportation cell in Jeddah from where they will be transported to India, said 
Muhammed Abdul Rehman Al Ahmari, the jail officer at Abha prisons.

(source: The Times of India)






INDONESIA:

Widodo talks of abolishing death penalty


Ahead of a 2-day visit to Australia, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has 
indicated his country wants to move towards abolishing the death penalty.

He's told the ABC he thinks Indonesians will change their minds on execution 
laws as citizens in Europe had done in the past.

"We are very open to options," he said.

"I don't know when but we want to move towards that direction."

The execution in Indonesia last year of Australian drug traffickers Andrew Chan 
and Myuran Sukumaran strained relations between the 2 countries.

"Indonesia has regulations, Indonesia has its own law, which still allows 
execution. That's what I complied to," the president told the ABC.

"We also listened to what other countries had to say. But again, I have to 
follow the provisions of the law applicable in Indonesia."

But President Widodo also stressed the importance of rebuilding trust between 
Australia and Indonesia.

(source: Yahoo News)