[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Dec. 1



UZBEKISTAN:

Imam Proposes Death Penalty for Radical Muslims



A prominent imam in Uzbekistan has caused a stink by taking to social media to 
propose restoring the death penalty for supporters of the Islamic State 
militant group and the banned Islamist political party Hizb ut-Tahrir.

"We should reserve punishments for them like the ones they have in Islamic 
states," Shermurov Togai, a well-known imam in Tashkent, said in a Facebook 
status update that has since been deleted. "We cannot spare the enemies of our 
religion and people who are hampering our freedom. They have become accustomed 
to free accommodation in prison, with free food and all the services for free."

The tenor of the remarks reflects a marginally increased tolerance for 
outspoken views in Uzbekistan that has been ushered in under the rule of 
President Shavkay Mirziyoyev. Back in the days of the late president, Islam 
Karimov, religious figures like Togai typically avoided making public 
pronouncements of sensitive issues and spoke only to support the leader's 
policies.

Togai said that he was motivated in his remarks by a desire to see peace and 
stability prevail in Uzbekistan.

"I remember the early 1990s, when the Soviet Union collapsed and racketeering 
and mafia began to flourish in Uzbekistan. In those days, Islam Karimov 
introduced capital punishment and these things disappeared, and criminality and 
stealing cars came to an end," Togai told EurasiaNet.org. "Well, I thought if 
we brought in the death penalty for people who have gone astray and joined Hizb 
ut-Tahrir and the Islamic State, then maybe the number of people in those 
groups would stop growing."

Togai said he was moved to delete his original Facebook posting because of the 
wave of critical comments posted under his remarks.

"They insulted me with swearwords," he said. "Particularly internet users 
sympathizing with radical Islamists, most of whom live abroad."

Togai's usual targets for criticism are representatives of Uzbekistan's 
entertainment industry, many of whom he feels have fallen under the sway of 
Western influences.

As a teacher at a religious school in Tashkent told EurasiaNet.org, Togai 
belongs to an older generation of religious figures in Uzbekistan given to 
ultra-orthodox views about religion and the role of women in private life.

"A person's life is priceless and to pass a death sentence on somebody requires 
good reasons. Perhaps he had in mind those Uzbek citizens who are fighting with 
Islamic State," the school worker, who asked to be identified only as Yakub, 
told EurasiaNet.org. "But even with those people it is necessary to do 
explanatory work. After all, people may have gone astray because of poor 
knowledge of the fundamentals of Islam."

Islamic State and Hizb ut-Tahrir are both banned in Uzbekistan. Also, the death 
penalty has not been on the statute books since 2008.

(source: eurasia.net)








INDIA:

Shiv Sena Seeks Death Sentence For Rape Of Girls Below 12 Years Of 
Age----Noting that nobody, neither a child nor an elderly woman, was safe, the 
Sena said the security of women and minors had become an issue of grave 
concern.



The Shiv Sena today called for awarding death to those convicted of raping 
girls aged 12 or below, on the lines of a similar proposal cleared by the 
Madhya Pradesh government.

Noting that nobody, neither a child nor an elderly woman, was safe, the Sena 
said the security of women and minors had become an issue of grave concern.

Strengthening the laws may not change the mentality of criminals or stop such 
crimes, but would send a stern message across, the ruling party ally said in an 
editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The remarks came a day after a sessions court in Ahmednagar district sentenced 
three men to death for the brutal rape and murder in 2016 of a 15-year-old girl 
in Maharashtra's Kopardi village. The incident had triggered protests across 
the state.

The Madhya Pradesh government on November 26 cleared a proposal for a law on 
awarding the death sentence to those guilty of raping girls aged 12 or below in 
the state.

The Bill will now be presented before the MP Assembly in the ongoing winter 
session of the state's Legislature.

The Shiv Sena said in the last few years, cases of atrocities against women had 
increased across the country and female safety had become an issue of grave 
concern.

"On top of it, the perverse mentality of people has gone to such an extent that 
nobody, including infants and old women, is safe," the editorial said.

The Shiv Sena said after the 2012 gang rape case in Delhi, the laws for crime 
against women were made stringent and changes were made in the definition of 
rape and its punishment.

"The government of Madhya Pradesh has gone a step ahead. It has brought rape of 
females below the age of 12 years under the death penalty. This law mandates 
that those convicted of the crime will be hanged until death," it said.

After the Kopardi gang rape verdict, Maharashtra and other states should look 
at the decision taken by the MP government, the Shiv Sena said, adding that 
steps should be taken to make laws for the safety of women as stringent as 
possible.

Strengthening the laws may not change mentalities but would convey a stern 
message that such acts would have severe repercussions, the editorial said.

The death sentence awarded to the 3 men in Ahmednagar district should be seen a 
punishment for perverse and inhuman mentality, the Shiv Sena added.

(source: ndtv.com)








PAKISTAN:

Capital punishment: Murder accused gets death penalty



Additional District and Sessions Judge Erum Bhalwal awarded death sentence to a 
man in a murder case in Sargodha.

The prosecution told the court that accused Tanveer Ahmad, a resident of 
Nimtaas Village, had murdered his brother Shahid Amir over a property dispute. 
However, the police arrested him and submitted a challan in the court.

After hearing witnesses, the judge awarded death penalty to Tanveer. In 
addition, the court imposed a fine of Rs0.2 million on the convict.

Earlier on October 27, 2017, a court awarded death sentence to a convict for 
his involvement in a murder case in Sargodha. The judgment was announced by 
Additional Sessions Judge Zulfiqar Ali.

(source: The Express tribune)








BOTSWANA:

Minister advocates more application of death penalty



A senior member of the government in Botswana is advocating the frequent 
application of the death penalty against those convicted of gender-based 
violence, which is reportedly on the increase.Statements ascribed to Health 
Minister, Dorcus Makgato on Thursday quoted him saying people convicted of such 
violence should be sentenced to death in a bid to deter would-be perpetrators.

Makgato further said cases of gender-based violence are on the rise in 
Botswana, requiring stiff laws that sanction offenders.

His statement comes as Botswana joins the rest of the world in commemorating 
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women earlier this 
month.

Events marking the occasion began on November 25th and will last until 10th 
December.

Botswana is one of the few democracies where the death penalty is still 
enforced usually over aggravated murders.

Such a penalty is carried out by hanging.

The last instance of death by hanging was in 2016.

(source: journalducameroun.com)