[Deathpenalty] death penalty news---worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 17




NIGERIA:

The Lagos State anti-kidnapping law


It is commendable that in a bid to curb the rising wave of kidnappings in the 
state, the Lagos State House of Assembly has sent a bill against the menace to 
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for assent and passage into law.

To underscore the inhumanity of those who perpetrate the crime, "A Bill for a 
Law to provide for the Prohibition of the act of kidnapping and other connected 
Purposes," understandably proposes the death penalty for offenders whose 
captive (s) died in their custody and a life sentence for those whose victims 
came out alive. In the light of an upsurge in this heinous crime, the Lagos 
State House of Assembly deserves praise for taking this action against such a 
murderous scourge as kidnapping. It is also time the Federal Government took a 
decisive action in tandem with the three states -Anambra, Delta and Lagos - 
that have enacted or are in the process of passing specific laws to deal with 
abductions.

In October last year, kidnappers struck at the Lagos State Model College in Epe 
and took away six persons, made up of staff and students. They were released 
after days in captivity upon payment of a ransom. The trauma of that violent 
encounter still lingers among all persons. Before then, 4 residents of Lekki 
Gardens in Isheri were violently abducted and taken to the creeks. They were 
also later released, perhaps after the abductors had received a ransom. Indeed, 
there were other cases of kidnappings which did not catch the big headlines in 
Lagos and across the country. In some cases, the kidnappers would collect the 
ransom after killing their victims and many victims have also been known to 
suffer heart failure during the encounters. Their bodies are usually buried in 
shallow graves by the criminals. Those who are lucky to return from the 
captivity of kidnappers tell horrendous stories of torture, starvation and 
humiliation. In a few cases, the police were able to arrest the criminals.

Last week over half a dozen civic groups in Lagos called on the state 
government to frontally confront kidnapping. In their view, the era of denial 
was over. They listed the cases of different persons from 2012 who had been 
kidnapped in Lagos and concluded that the government was not willing to 
publicly acknowledge the problem. Recently, indeed, on Friday, January 13, 
2017, 5 persons, 3 students and 2 members of staff of Turkish International 
School Isheri, a border town between Lagos and Ogun states, were kidnapped by 
armed men. In most, if not all the cases, these criminals demand a ransom which 
loved ones manage to raise and pay. So, for the kidnappers, it is an avenue to 
get quick wealth and, therefore, an attractive venture.

The scourge shot up in the last 10 odd years as kidnappers who called 
themselves militants picked up foreigners, particularly in the Niger Delta, and 
asked for huge sums of money. To avoid the death of victims, families and 
companies as well as governments often paid the ransom. Different groups and 
persons then took to the nefarious trade and made a profession of it. In Delta 
State, the reign of the notorious Kokori-born Kelvin Oniara, the kingpin of 
kidnappings in that region was brought to an end in 2013 when he was arrested 
by men of the State Security Service in Port Harcourt. He and some members of 
his gang are currently facing trial in Abuja for the abduction of 1-time Deputy 
Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chudi Nwike, Chief Michael Ozekhome (SAN) and 
Professor Hope Eghagha (then Commissioner for Higher Education, Delta State). 
Sadly, Dr. Nwike was killed and his body abandoned on a roadside near Agbor. 
Also in 2013, another kingpin who operated between Ghana and Lagos, Benjamin 
Osinachi, (aka China) met his waterloo in the hands of the Special Anti-robbery 
Squad of the Nigeria Police, after years of terrorising innocent families 
through kidnapping. Anambra State took the special step of demolishing any 
house that was used as a hideout or safe haven by kidnappers.

The truth, therefore, is that kidnapping is now a national problem. It requires 
concerted efforts of all stakeholders in Nigeria and sometimes across the 
border. This is where intelligence gathering in a proactive manner becomes 
crucial. The criminals involved use their mobile phones to make calls before, 
during and after kidnapping their victims. A synergy between the Nigeria Police 
and the network providers should provide a platform to track the scoundrels. 
The Federal Government should play a definite and coordinating role in this 
regard. An effective intelligence structure should be created in order to 
either nip the crime in the bud or arrest perpetrators of the crime.

The banks also have a role to play. Some of the huge ransoms paid by victims 
usually end up in the banks. Through proper monitoring, banks should be able to 
report to the appropriate authorities if a customer starts making cash deposits 
that are not generated by any known business transactions. Also, with the 
proper infrastructure in place, people of suspicious character who suddenly 
start living above their means should be brought to the attention of the 
authorities. Kidnappers are human beings. They live in communities. They belong 
in families. In some cases, neighbours and friends suspect them but fear of 
reprisals prevents them from exposing the crooks.

With fear of kidnapping in the air, people are usually afraid to move around 
and exercise their God-given, constitution-guaranteed freedoms. For example, 
businessmen and women would live in perpetual fear as long as kidnappers carry 
out their criminal activities without fear of being arrested. Also, investors 
are likely to shun areas where kidnapping is frequent. This would have a 
terrible effect on the economy of the country, which is already in a recession.

While the Lagos State government's adoption of the death penalty may be an 
unfashionable extreme measure, in the circumstance, the Federal Government and 
other state governments should follow suit with laws that will contain 
permanently the menace of kidnapping. Trials should not be tedious and unduly 
long. Witnesses and whistle blowers against kidnappers should be guaranteed 
protection as part of the efforts to guarantee the safety of citizens and halt 
the activities of kidnappers.

(source: Editorial Board, guardian.ng)






BENIN:

14 Benin prisoners 'abandoned' in death row despite scrap of death penalty


14 prisoners on death row in Benin's Akpro-Misserete Prison close to the 
capital Port Novo are still being held in terrible conditions separately from 
other inmates despite last year's abolishment of the death penalty.

Their plight was documented by Amnesty International in a report on Monday 
which says the inmates who have already served 20 years on death row have not 
had their sentences commuted.

"They face an unclear fate in appalling detention conditions, without adequate 
food and medical care," Amnesty International's Adviser on the death penalty, 
Oluwatosin Popoola said in the report.

The inmates were only informed by prison authorities that they will not be 
executed, the report added.

"The fear of death is often worse than death itself. For years, I woke up 
wondering: will I be executed today, tomorrow, in a few months or in a few 
years?" 54-year-old Azonhito Yaovi who has been on death row for 18 years told 
Amnesty International.

Another inmate, 52-year-old Fatai Bankole said: "When we are sick, we rely on 
the help we can get from outside. If you have money and family to provide you 
with treatment, you survive. If you don't, you die."

Oluwatosin Popoola called on the Benin government to commute their sentences 
officially and "ensure that the conditions they are being held in comply with 
minimum international standards."

"Benin is the 104th country in the world and the 19th country in sub-Saharan 
Africa to abolish the death penalty for all crimes and we applaud its efforts. 
However, it needs to formalize the abolition in its laws to make absolutely 
sure there's no chance of sliding backwards on this achievement," Oluwatosin 
Popoola added.

The last known execution in Benin was carried out in 1987. A recent 2016 
judgement makes it impossible for the courts to impose death sentences, 
effectively abolishing the death penalty in Benin, Amnesty International said.

(source: africanews.com)






PAKISTAN:

Man gets death penalty for murdering navy policeman


An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has awarded capital punishment to a man involved 
in the murder of a navy policeman during an attempted robbery back in 2014.

The court noted on Monday that the prosecution had proved the murder case 
against Muhammad Yasir but had failed to prove any of the charges against his 
alleged accomplice Muneer, who was acquitted from the case. The ATC also 
sentenced Yasir to 10 years in prison for robbery.

On April 30, 2014, a security guard belonging to the Pakistan Navy was gunned 
down in an attack on the car of a senior navy officer in Defence Phase II. 
Police claimed that the incident was not a target killing but a robbery 
attempt.

35-year-old Fayyaz Qayyum was wounded in the attack and was pronounced dead on 
arrival at the PNS Shifa hospital. Resident of Sultanabad in Karachi, the 
victim hailed from Abbottabad, KP.

Another ATC expressed displeasure over the "lethargic" role of state attorneys 
in the Zahra Shahid murder case and issued an arrest warrant against a 
prosecution witness for failing to record his statement in court.

The court fixed January 26 as the date to hear the case again and ordered 
producing the prosecution witness in the next hearing.

The ATC-VIII, headed by Imdad Ali Khoso, noted that the prosecution witness, a 
government employee, had failed to appear in court despite repeatedly being 
issued with summons.

The state attorneys were directed to assist the court in the literal sense and 
ensure that the prosecution witness is brought in to record his statement.

Muhammad Rashid, alias Master, Zahid Abbas Zaidi, Irfan, alias Lamba, and 
Kaleem are on trial for the murder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh 
senior vice-president Zahra Shahid.

She was killed outside her residence by 2 motorcyclists in the upmarket Defence 
Housing Authority locality on May 18, 2013, on the eve of re-election at 43 
polling stations in the NA-250 constituency, where the atmosphere had remained 
tense for several days.

Police initially said it was apparently an act of mugging and street crime, as 
the armed suspects "tried to snatch a purse from Zahra Shahid", who was in her 
60s, and, on resistance, fired a single shot under her chin, killing her 
instantly.

However, the police subsequently said they were investigating the matter 
further in the light of statements claiming that it was a target killing.

(source: The News)

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

ATC hands down death penalty to a man


An anti-terrorism court handed down the death sentence to a man in a murder 
case.

Muhammad Yasir alias Kala was found guilty of murdering Pakistan Navy's gunman 
Fayyad Ali during an attempted robbery in DHA on April 30, 2014.

The ATC-III sentenced Kala to death adding payment of a fine of Rs 500,000 to 
the legal heirs of the deceased. It also awarded 10 years imprisonment to him 
in the robbery case and directed him to pay fine of Rs 50,000. "He would 
undergo an addition of 1 year imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine."

The court exonerated another suspect, Muneer, for lack of evidence. It 
announced its verdict after recording evidence and statements of the defense 
and prosecution sides. According to the police, Yasir and his accomplice robbed 
Pakistan Navy captain Iftikhar Ahmed at a traffic signal near DHA Central 
Library. When the suspects saw gunman Fayyaz Ali picking up his gun, they 
opened fire at him, severely injuring him. The wounded man succumbed to 
injuries and was pronounced dead by doctors at the PNS Shifa Hospital.

(source: dailytimes.com.pk)






IRAN----executions

5 Prisoners Executed


5 prisoners were reportedly executed in various Iranian prisons.

2 PRISONERS EXECUTED

According to close sources, 2 prisoners were executed on drug charges on the 
morning of Saturday January 14 at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah.

The prisoners have been identified as:

Seifollah Hosnian, 33, arrested on December 29, 2010 for possession of two 
kilograms and 200 grams of crack and 1 kilogram and 80 grams of crystal meth, 
sentenced to death on May 28, 2011 by the Javanrud Revolutionary Court, 
presided by Judge Hekmati.

Tofigh Bahramnejad, 31, arrested in 2012 on drug charges, sentenced to death on 
March 4, 2014 by branch 2 of the Kermanshah Revolutionary Court.

1 PRISONER EXECUTED

According to the website Iran Online, a prisoner was hanged at Shahab Kerman 
prison on SundayJanuary 15 on murder charges. The prisoner has been identified 
as Shamsoldin, 23.

2 PRISONERS EXECUTED

According to Mehr News, 2 prisoners were hanged on drug related charges. The 
prisoners have been identified as Akbar K., 36, accused of possession and 
trafficking 194 grams and 50 centigrams of heroin and Morteza H., accused of 
possession and trafficking 2 kilograms.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iranian authorities continue to implement death sentences for drug related 
offenses at a high rate, even when an urgent plan was approved in the Iranian 
Parliament recently calling for a halt to the execution of prisoners on death 
row for drug related offenses. Additionally, Iranian Parliament members have 
sent a joint letter to the head of Iran's Judiciary asking for the imminent 
execution of approximately five thousand drug-related prisoners to be stopped 
pending further review of their cases.

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

Prisoner Hanged Publicly In Northwestern Iran


1 prisoner was hanged in the village of Bektash near Miandoab (Northwestern 
Iran) reported the official Iranian news agencies.

The public hanging was carried out Monday morning January 16. The man who was 
not identified by name was convicted of murdering 5 members of a family in the 
summer 2016.

According to the Prosecutor of Miandoab, Adel Gol Hosseini, the man was 
senteced to death within two months after his arrest.

Pictures published in the Iranian media show several hundred people watching 
the execution.

The website of "Kurdistan Human Rights Network" identified the prisoner as Ali 
Aghayan (24 years old).

At least 32 prisoners have been executed in different Iranian cities the last 6 
days.

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

UN calls on Iran to halt juvenile execution


In a statement released today, 3 of the United Nations' rights experts called 
on the Iranian authorities to stop execution of the juvenile offender Sajjad 
Sanjari who is reportedly in imminent danger of execution and to institute a 
moratorium on the use of the death penalty in Iran.

The rights experts include Asma Jahangir, Special Rapportueur on the situation 
of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Agnes Callamard, Special 
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Benyam Dawit 
Mezmur Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

According to the reports collected by Iran Human Rights (IHR) more than 32 
prisoners have been executed during the last 6 days in Iran.

UN experts today urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt the possibly 
imminent execution of a juvenile offender.

"We are deeply concerned that the life of a juvenile offender remains in danger 
and that he may be executed at any moment," said the experts, Asma Jahangir, 
Special Rapportueur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of 
Iran, Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or 
arbitrary executions and Benyam Dawit Mezmur Chairperson of the Committee on 
the Rights of the Child.

The offender was 15 years old when he was sentenced to death in 2012 for 
stabbing a man. In February 2014, he was granted a retrial on the basis of the 
new juvenile sentencing provisions of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code.

However, in June 2015 the Provincial Criminal Court of Kermanshah Province 
found that, at the time of the commission of the crime, he was mature enough to 
understand the nature of his crime. The court therefore confirmed his death 
sentence and rejected his argument that he had acted in self-defence following 
a rape attempt. The death sentence was upheld by Iran's Supreme Court in August 
2016.

Iran remains one of several States which execute juvenile offenders despite its 
strict prohibition under the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a party.

"The Iranian authorities must immediately halt the execution of this juvenile 
and annul the death sentence against him in compliance with international 
standards for the imposition of this form of punishment," the experts stressed.

Several other juveniles were retried under the revised juvenile sentencing 
guidelines of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code, and also found to be mature enough 
to be sentenced to death. 15 others were reportedly sentenced to death for the 
1st time under these guidelines.

In January 2016, the Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Iran to end the 
execution of children and persons who committed a crime while under the age of 
18. However, at least 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2016 and, to date 
more than 78 juveniles are reported to be on death row.

"Iran must observe its international obligations by putting an end to the 
execution of juvenile offenders once and for all," the experts said.

Ms. Jahangir and Ms. Callamard also expressed outrage at the reported execution 
of 16 alleged drug offenders on Saturday 14 January.

"Under international law, countries which have retained the death penalty may 
only impose it for the most serious crimes, that is, those involving 
intentional killing. Drug related offences do not meet this threshold," the 
experts highlighted.

"Moreover, information we received show that the trials of some of these people 
marred by violations of due process guarantees and that the proceedings fell 
short of international fair trial standards," the experts said. "Any death 
sentence undertaken in contravention of a Government's international 
obligations is unlawful and tantamount to an arbitrary execution."

Over the past 2 years, more 1,000 people have reportedly been executed for drug 
related offences in Iran and currently some 5,000 people are reported to be on 
death row for drug offences.

"Until the death penalty for drug related offences is abolished in Iran, a 
moratorium on these executions should be instituted and all scheduled 
executions for drug- related offences halted," the 2 experts stressed.

The experts also noted that human rights defenders campaigning against the 
death penalty in Iran are being increasingly targeted. Several anti-death 
penalty activists were sentenced to long prison sentences in 2016.

(source for all: Iran Human Rights)

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

Prisoner Executed Before Flawed Judicial Process Ends


A prisoner incarcerate in central prison of Karaj was executed on drug related 
charges in an incomplete trial and before the vague and flawed judicial process 
ends.

According to the prisoner's wife, the amount of drug he was carrying was much 
less than what was recorded in the court's secretariat. On the other hand, his 
case was still under investigation in the Supreme Court and the death sentence 
was neither confirmed nor communicated to the prisoner.

Hadi Moghaddam, 31, married and father of one child, has been in prison for 5 
years before being executed on January 3rd 2017.

The prisoner's wife in an interview with a Persian (Farsi) language news agency 
about the ambiguities in the case said: "In the case of my husband, the amount 
of discovered drugs was registered to be 416 grams. On the other hand, the 
death sentence was neither confirmed nor announced. The court has said that in 
no way a death sentence will be issued for (carrying) drugs under 0.5 kg. Now, 
I wonder how they could hang my husband for this amount of drugs. They must 
answer me why they executed him?"

She also explained about the institutions she approached to stop and cancel the 
execution and said: "I received a letter from Khamenei's office and also from 
the head of the Judiciary, because I am a martyrs' family member. I also 
received a letter form Martyrs foundation and put them on the case to reduce 
the sentence by one degree. Even prosecutor approved all the letters and the 
case to be returned for reconsideration. But before the case was returned, they 
gave my husband the confirmation order."

It should be noted that last week the death sentence of a prisoner identified 
as Nosratollah Khazaei was carried out in Qazvin prison while his family said 
the case was still under investigation and review by the prosecution office and 
his death sentence was not finalized.

(source: NCR-Iran)