[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 11



INDIA:

Marathas set 14 December deadline for Maharashtra govt to accept demands----The 
9 demands put forth by the Marathas include death penalty for the culprits in 
the Kopardi rape case and a 16% quota in government education and jobs


Maratha organizations holding protest marches across Maharashtra have asked the 
government to meet their demands by 14 December, failing which they will take 
their agitation to capital Mumbai.

The state coordination committee of Maratha activists met at Aurangabad on 
Sunday to take stock and decide future moves. A committee member said, 
requesting anonymity, that Marathas will hold their biggest march yet in 
Nagpur, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's hometown, also on 14 December.

"We want the government to accept our demands by 14 December, the day when we 
organize our biggest march that would lead to the state legislature in Nagpur. 
If the government does not accept our nine demands by then, we will hold an 
even bigger protest march in Mumbai and continue our agitation till all demands 
are met," the committee member said.

If the government's response is not satisfactory, "special efforts will be made 
to make the Mumbai rally a historic one", according to a resolution passed at 
the committee meeting.

The Maharashtra legislature meets for its winter session in Nagpur from 5 
December. The organizers are estimating a turnout of 2 million for the Nagpur 
rally. The 2011 census counted Nagpur city's total population at 2.4 million.

The Maratha charter of demand started nearly a month after a Maratha teen was 
raped and murdered allegedly by 3 Dalit youths in Kopardi village of Ahmadnagar 
district on 13 July. On 9 August, the 1st silent march and rally was held in 
Marathwada's Aurangabad. Since then, similar silent marches have been held in 
23 of the total 36 districts in Maharashtra, including 1 in Mumbai's satellite 
town of Navi Mumbai. Each of these rallies has seen a turnout of at least 
100,000.

The Marathas' primary demand is death penalty for the Kopardi culprits and a 
fast-track trial within 6 months. The government has filed a chargesheet in the 
case, naming 3 Dalit men as accused.

(source: livemint.com)






THAILAND:

Relevant agencies back end of death penalty


On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, which falls on 
October 10 of every year, related agencies have joined in a discussion on the 
death penalty, which the majority suggested should be abolished.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Veerapong Ramangkul, along with representatives 
from several concerned agencies, took part in the discussion to exchange 
opinions concerning the death penalty. Among the participating agencies were 
the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Justice, the Department 
of International Organizations, the Union for Civil Liberty and the Office of 
the Attorney General.

Most of the participants expressed the view that imposing the death penalty on 
law offenders is not an effective solution. Instead, they were supportive of 
the strengthening of law enforcement to prevent violations and take sensible 
action against perpetrators. Member of the National Human Rights Commission 
Chatchai Suthiklom proposed that life imprisonment is set as the maximum 
penalty, to be given in accompaniment with mental rehabilitation. He also said 
clear guidelines should be established for the consideration of parole.

According to Amnesty International, 140 countries around the world have 
repealed the death penalty, whereas another 58 have not. Although Thailand 
belongs to the latter group, the country has not put any convicts to death 
since August 2009 or for a period of 7 years. If no death penalty is given for 
10 consecutive years, Thailand would be considered by the United Nations as 
having practically abolished the penalty.

(source: thaivisa.com)






PAKISTAN:

Day against death penalty observed


Activists of the Hyderabad chapter of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan 
(HRCP) observed the 'World day against death penalty' on Monday and urged the 
government to abolish the death sentence.

They gathered outside the local press club carrying banners and placards and 
shouting slogans against death penalty in the country.

Leading the demonstration, Hyderabad HRCP task force coordinator Dr Ashothama 
Lohana and activists Lala Abdul Haleem, Prof Imdad Chandio, Makhdoom Aqil, 
Ghufrana Arain and others appealed to the government to do away with the 
capital punishment in the country immediately.

They also urged the government to ratify the UN convention against death 
penalty.

They said the criminal justice system of the country and method of the police 
investigation were so poor that innocent people often were hanged while 
powerful and influential persons, who committed crimes, were exonerated and 
released.

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

'Countries without the death penalty have lower crime rates'


A large number of civil society activists and residents of the federal capital 
held a protest against the death penalty in Pakistan at F-6 Markaz on Monday.

The protest was organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in 
connection with the World Day against the Death Penalty.

Speaking at the protest, HRCP representative Nasreen Azhar said the severity of 
punishment cannot reduce the crime rates though the certainty of punishment 
can.

"Our law enforcement agencies do not investigate cases due to which poor, 
innocent people suffer. We have precedent of those people being executed who 
were not mentally stable, or had not reached the age of criminal liability when 
the crime was committed."

She added that some countries which do not have the death penalty enjoy lower 
crime rates than those which do.

"We have to improve our police system in order to reduce the crime rate and the 
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) also needs to be improved," she said.

Rights activist Farzana Bari said Scandinavian countries did not have the death 
penalty but had the lower crime rates, which, she said, proved the perception 
of executions leading to decreased crime rates wrong.

"I believe that God gives life and only He has the right to take it back too. 
It is better to award a sentence of life time imprisonment than to execute 
them, because putting someone behind bars for life is more painful than killing 
them," she said.

"The Pakistani judicial system is very weak. Even a prime minister was executed 
and the judges later said the decision was not right," she said.

Another rights activist Tahira Abdullah said there was also the precedent of a 
person dying after spending 25 years in jail and the courts declaring him 
innocent after his death.

"A country which does not have justice should not have the death penalty. We 
demand that Pakistan sign the UN convention against the death penalty. We want 
to enjoy the facilities of the Generalised Scheme of Priorities Plus but do not 
want to implement the European Union' s recommendation for a ban on the death 
penalty," she said.

Since the start of carrying out the death sentence in December 2014, Pakistan 
has hanged 425 individuals and by executing 333 convicts in 2015 alone Pakistan 
joined the ranks of the countries which carry out the most executions.

Pakistani courts continue to award capital punishment with 225 death sentences 
awarded in 2014 and 411 in 2015 while the number of death sentences awarded 
till September this year is 301.

Meanwhile, in a joint declaration, the European Union High Representative for 
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the Secretary 
General of the Council of Europe Thorbj???rn Jagland said the EU reaffirms 
strong and unequivocal opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances 
and for all cases. They said the death penalty was incompatible with human 
dignity and did not have any proven significance as a deterrent. It does, 
however, allow judicial errors to become irreversible and fatal.

The abolition of the death penalty is a distinctive achievement in Europe and 
is a prerequisite for membership to the Council of Europe as inscribed in the 
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the statement added.

"The Council of Europe and the European Union welcome the global trend towards 
the abolition of capital punishment. Today more than 2/3 of all countries have 
abolished the death penalty in either law or practice. However, the Council of 
Europe and the European Union regret that the number of executions have risen 
in some of those countries that retain the death penalty and that some 
countries which had a de facto moratorium carried out executions," said the 
statement.

"Both the organisations are particularly alarmed when this involves the 
execution of minors which is contrary to the international law. Some countries 
continue to apply the death penalty for drug-related offences, also in 
violation of the international law," it said.

(source for both: dawn.com)

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

Asia Bibi prepares for final appeal on death sentence; non-stop prayer campaign 
for her freedom continues


Christians around the world are pledging to join in the 24-hour prayer rally 
that has been organised in support of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to 
death for her faith.

Bibi, from Pakistan, is a mother of 5. She is gearing up to fight her case at 
the final appeal before Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday. The persecution 
watchdog group that has organised this event warns that after the hearing this 
week, the Islamic extremists who are involved in this case may lash out 
violently against Christians.

Bibi's battle for her faith began back in June 2009, when she had an argument 
with her Muslim coworkers. Upon defending her faith, she was accused of 
insulting Prophet Mohammed.

Christian Post reports that she denied the charges, but was sentenced to death 
by a local judge. This week, Bibi's final appeal is all set to take place in 
Islamabad. The appeal's outcome will determine whether Bibi will escape the 
death penalty. Should she be sentenced to death, this would make her the first 
woman in the country to face such an extreme sentence for blasphemy.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide is now calling upon Christians all over the 
world to take part in a 24-hour prayer rally in support of Bibi.

Kiri Kankhwende, the Senior Press Officer at CSW, explained in an interview 
with Christian Post, "Unfortunately, when a non-Muslim is accused of blasphemy, 
their entire community is vulnerable to attack and Asia Bibi's case is no 
different."

She went on to add, "We hope for an acquittal in her case and we pray that 
there will be no reprisals against her, her family or the Christian community, 
but any situation that involves an accusation of blasphemy is highly dangerous 
for all involved. It's vital that we pray."

(source: christiantoday.com)

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

Activists demand end to capital punishment ---- Death penalty, a slap of 
retributive justice in ancient times, should have no place in modern society


Activists of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and civil society on Monday 
held demonstration to call for putting an end to capital punishment on the eve 
of October 10 World Day against the death penalty.

The protest led by renowned HRCP activist Akhtar Baloch and PFUJ leader 
Khurshed Abbasi, Asad Iqbal, Nida Palwasha and others holding banners and 
placards chanted slogans of stop execution, stop death penalty etc here before 
the Karachi Press Club.

Speaking to gathering, the HRCP activists said highlighted that in present 
circumstances, it is imperative to immediately halt executions and restore the 
moratorium to move towards abolition of the death penalty in Pakistan.

The HRCP activists disclosed that Pakistan is the top ranking in the executions 
of the world over, which the data shows since resuming executions in December 
2014 Pakistan hanged 425 individuals, while 33 convicts in 2015 alone they 
said.

They said courts have continued to award capital punishment to suspects at a 
rapid rate, as many as 225 individual were sentenced in 2014 and 411 in 2015 
report said. The number of convictions had already reached 301 by the end of 
September 2016.

HRCP coordinator told that the authorities have decided to put execution of 
death sentences convicts at the top of the 20th point of National Action Plan 
(NAP), so that it is essential to assess, if the objectives for resumption of 
executions have been achieved.

HRCP leaders have expressed grave concern over the rising denial of fair trial 
and due process rights in trial by military court in a situation, added due to 
the critical and well-documented deficiencies of the law and administration of 
justice in Pakistan. The death penalty allows for very high probability of 
miscarriage of justice, which is unacceptable in any civilized society.

HRCP activists claimed that the religion has often invoked to justify capital 
punishment, yet the fact is that no more than a couple of 27 death penalty 
offences on the statute books in Pakistan are mandated by religion. Capital 
punishment smack of retributive justice from ancient times that should have no 
place in modern society they said.

They demanded of the investigation methods' of the police and chronic 
corruption also add to the troubles of those accused of death penalty offences 
at a serious disadvantage. The system of justice is loaded against the poor and 
the lack of financial means puts those accused of death penalty offences at 
serious drawback.

(source: Daily Times)






INDONESIA:

Calls to abolish death penalty resonate


Family members and lawyers of convicts recall the confusion ahead of the 
executions in July amid current uncertainty and a lack of reliable information. 
Uncertainty continues for the 10 convicts who received last minute stays of 
execution, as they remain in isolation cells on the Nuskambangan prison island 
in Cilacap, West Java. Merry Utami, the only female convict, is being housed at 
Cilacap Penitentiary.

Lawyers are concerned that the executions could take place any time because 
official execution notification letters issued by the Attorney General's Office 
(AGO) bear the signatures of the convicts.

"Unless the AGO formally revokes them, the notification letters are legally 
binding" said Merri's attorney, Ricky Gunawan of the Jakarta-based Community 
Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat).

Meanwhile, the attorney of death row inmate Pakistani Zulfiqar Ali, Saut Edward 
Rajagukguk, emphasized the "inhumane" decision of the AGO to keep Ali at Batu 
prison on Nusakambangan and its rejection of a request to transfer him to 
Jakarta for medical treatment. Ali was convicted of heroin possession and 
suffers from a serious illness.

"I am seriously worried about the condition of [Ali]. He really must get decent 
medical treatment in Jakarta, but my request for his transfer has been met with 
no response," Saut said.

In addition to Merry and Ali, the other convicts spared in the 3rd round of 
executions were Indonesians Agus Hadi and Pujo Lestari; Nigerians Eugene Ape, 
Obina Nwajagu Bin Emeuwa and Okonkwo Nonso Kingsley; Zimbabweans Fredderikk 
Luttar and Ozias Sibanda; and Indian Gurdip Singh.

Indonesian Freddy Budiman and 4 Nigerians - Humprey Jefferson Ejike, Michael 
Titus Igweh and Seck Osmane faced the firing squad in the early hours of July 
29 amid heavy rain.

The 4 inmates were among the 18 individuals executed within 2 years of 
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo taking office in October 2014.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) recorded 
35 death sentences issued in 9 months since January this year.

The majority of them were handed down for crimes related to drug trafficking, 
while 10 for murder and sex offenses.

Zero transparency and a corrupt judicial system remain the most cited problems 
to challenge Jokowi's unshaken belief in capital punishment to defend his war 
on drugs.

Activists further argued that the death sentence was handed down mostly to drug 
couriers, failing to punish their employers. The death penalty has also been 
seen a tool to garner support for Jokowi.

"If the government is really serious about a war on drugs, they should go after 
those running the drug syndicates, not helpless people like, for example Mary 
Jane," said Totok Yulianto of the Indonesian Drug Victim Advocacy Brotherhood 
(PKNI), referring to Philippine migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso, who received a 
stay of execution last year on account of an ongoing case in her home country. 
"It is time for the government to evaluate the death penalty and see how it has 
failed to create a deterrent effect, as we continue to read news reports of 
confiscated drugs," said Totok.

(source: Jakarta Post)






PHILIPPINES:

Catholic Church ministry: Death penalty won't solve crimes


The prison ministry of the Catholic Church believes restoring capital 
punishment is not the solution in solving crimes in the country.

Speaking after a Mass marking the World Day Against Death Penalty on Monday, 
Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Prison 
Pastoral Care, called on President Rodrigo Duterte no to push for the death 
penalty's reimposition.

"We appeal to the President and our lawmakers not to resort to a quick fix 
solution to the problem of criminality and stop giving us false hope that we 
will be safe and secure by putting people to death," Diamante said.

He added that death penalty will be an "affront" to human dignity. "It is no 
more the answer for violent crime than abortion is the answer for unplanned 
pregnancies. Death is never the answer."

Diamante also said the spate of killings in the country is a "travesty for 
efficiency in fighting criminality," making it "an effective tool for 
politicking."

He said some politicians may carry the cause of death for the convicted simply 
because it is popular and not because it is appropriate.

"And yet the popular is not necessarily correct," Diamante said.

Diamante enjoined the faithful to uphold the teachings of the church amid the 
pervasive human rights violations in the country.

"As Christians, we are called to uphold and proclaim a set of moral principles 
and social teachings at the heart of which is the knowledge that the human 
person is central, the clearest reflection of God among us," he said.

"Human life is inherently precious and those who commit crimes do not give up 
their human dignity," he added.

Also on Monday, Duterte hit back at former Davao archbishop Fernando Capalla on 
his administration's campaign against illegal drugs.

"I'm really appalled by so many groups and individuals, including priests and 
bishops complaining about the number of persons killed, itong dito sa operation 
against the drug problem," Duterte said.

(source: gmanetwork.com)






IRAN----executions

2 Prisoners Hanged For Drug Charges in Western Iran


2 prisoners were hanged in the Parsilon Prison of Khorramabad (Lorestan 
Province, western Iran) on Tuesday October 4, according to unofficial reports 
confirmed by Iran Human Rights. Both prisoners were sentenced to death for 
drug-related charges.

1 of the prisoners was identified as Shirodeh Tahmasebi, convicted of 
possession and trafficking of 5 kilograms of crack, reported the website of the 
Human Rights News Agnecy (HRANA).

The report has not been announced by the official Iranian sources.

(source: iranhr.net)