[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

May 5



GERMANY:

Germany rules out Turkish death penalty referendum


The German government says it won't allow Turks living in Germany to vote in a 
possible referendum on reviving the death penalty in Turkey. President Erdogan 
is contemplating reviving capital punishment.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin on Friday that 
letting such a referendum go ahead in Germany was "politically inconceivable" 
because it "so clearly contradicts our basic law and European values."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan floated plans to bring back the death 
penalty following his narrow victory in last month's referendum to expand his 
powers.

Under Turkish law, Turkish nationals living abroad are eligible to vote in 
referendums and elections in Turkey. But Germany's Foreign Ministry has pointed 
out that all sovereign actions by other countries on its territory, such as 
referendums, first need to be approved by the federal government.

Erdogan has called for the death penalty to be reinstated

Germany allowed polling stations for Turkish nationals to vote in the April 
referendum on the presidential executive. No application for a referendum on 
the death penalty has yet been made by Ankara. If such a request were to be 
made, Seibert said the government would likely use its legal resources to 
prohibit a vote.

His comments echoed earlier remarks from the leading Social Democrat candidate 
in this year's federal elections, Martin Schulz. He told news magazine "Der 
Spiegel" that "we cannot allow voting in Germany on an instrument that 
contradicts our values and our constitution."

(source: Deutsche Welle)






SAUDI ARABIA:

Stop Execution of Young Man for Atheism in Saudi Arabia!


(see: 
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/471/732/427/save-man-from-death-in-saudi-arabia-for-quotatheism-and-blasphemyquot/)

Saudi Arabia has condemned a man to death for being an atheist.

Ahmad Al Shamri is a young man in his 20s who did what many of us do - he used 
social media to share his views on life, religion, and the world. But when he 
shared that he was an atheist, the authorities took notice and immediately came 
after him.

A Saudi Arabian court first sentenced Mr. Shamri to death in February 2015, but 
he appealed the verdict and has spent years in prison while waiting for the 
court to overturn the punishment. Now, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has 
issued its final verdict. And it has ruled against Mr. Shamri, confirming that 
he will be killed for his beliefs.

We don't know when or how Mr. Shamri will be executed. We don't know how much 
time he has left. But we do know that no one should be murdered for their 
personal beliefs - whether those beliefs are about religion, politics, society, 
or any other topic on the face of the earth. Murder is murder, even when it is 
carried out by a government.

We are urging the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia to rethink its decision and to 
spare Mr. Shamri's life! We must all band together and speak out strongly and 
loudly. Only a chorus of voices from the international community can save Mr. 
Shamri now.

(source: thepetitionsite.com)






IRAN:

Hangings Continue Unabated in Iran, Despite International Pressure


Over the past 5 years, there have been repeated calls by the international 
community for Iran to institute a moratorium on all executions within the 
country. Convictions were called into question based on faulty trials, lack of 
legal representation, and confessions obtained under duress or outright 
torture.

Individuals who are convicted of drug offenses are also at risk of receiving 
the death penalty, despite the fact that these offenses do not meet 
international standards for the death penalty.

"Iranian officials should end all executions and outlaw the use of the death 
penalty for drug offenders, which does not meet international legal standards," 
said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch in January 
2017. "Packing prisons with drug offenders and rushing to send them to death 
row without due process in highly flawed trials will just worsen Iran's justice 
problem while doing nothing to solve Iran???s drug problem."

Iran executed hundreds of people in 2016, with a majority of them for drug 
offenses. Their drug law mandates the death penalty for the trafficking, 
possession, or trade of as little as 30 grams of synthetic drugs or their 
chemical derivatives.

"The death penalty is a cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment that violates 
the right to life. Its use is abhorrent in any circumstances, but carrying out 
these executions would be particularly tragic, given ongoing discussions in the 
Iranian parliament that could lead to the abolition of the death penalty for 
non-violent drug offenses," said Phillip Luther, Research and Advocacy Director 
for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

This is just one example of the individuals receiving the death penalty. 
Another group are juvenile offenders who are sentenced to death for crimes 
committed while they were underage.

Yet these executions continue in Iran. Just this week, a 21-year-old was hanged 
in public for killing another man in a fight. Another prisoner was hung for 
drug related charges in Borojerd Prison. He was a husband and father of 2 
children. Identified as Saied Papizadeh, he was in prison for 6 years prior to 
his execution.

Another prisoner was hanged in Parsilon Prison after being convicted on drug 
related charges. He had been held in prison for 3 years prior to his execution.

For those who have not yet been executed, urgent requests are being made by 
human rights groups to the international community, in hopes of pressuring Iran 
to stay or commute their sentences. One such individual is Peyman Barandah, who 
was 15 years old at the time of his arrest. He is due to be executed on May 
10th. In August 2012, he was sentenced to death after Branch 5 of the Criminal 
Court in Fars Province convicted him of murder for the fatal stabbing of a 
teenager during a fight in June 2010. Barandah has repeatedly maintained his 
innocence, saying another teenager that was part of the fight inflicted the 
fatal blow. His death sentence was upheld by Branch 6 of the Supreme Court in 
September 2013.

This is just 1 example out of hundreds showcasing Iran's juvenile justice 
system. For those who come in contact with Iran's judiciary, there is little 
chance of a fair trial and the likelihood of a sentence that defies 
international treaties and laws.

(source: themediaexpress.com)






PHILIPPINES:

Majority support for death penalty declines: Pulse Asia


Majority of Filipinos support death penalty, one of President Rodrigo Duterte's 
priority measures, even as their numbers declined from last year, results of a 
Pulse Asia Inc survey released Friday showed.

67 % said in March that they agreed to the imposition of death penalty for 
heinous crimes, down from 81 % in July last year, the pollster said in a 
statement.

During the same period, disagreement to capital punishment rose 14 points to 25 
% from 11 %. The undecided stood at 8 % for both survey periods.

Pulse Asia sait it polled 1,200 adults from March 15 to 20. It had an error 
margin of +/- 3 % at the 95% confidence level.

The pollster also noted that the largest decrease in support for capital 
punishment was in Luzon, followed by Visayas. Citizens in the Class D, or lower 
working class socioeconomic status, meanwhile, showed the most decrease in 
favor.

Those who continue to support the death penalty, meanwhile, rate the top crimes 
that should be punishable with capital punishment as follows: rape (97 %) 
murder (88 %) drug pushing (71 %).

Meanwhile, most Filipinos prefer the minimum age of criminal liability to be 
kept at 15 years old, Pulse Asia said.

55 % of Filipinos favor the retention of the current minimum age before 
offenders can be penalized as adults for their crimes. If the age will be 
lowered, however, about 20 % favor setting it at 12 years, while 9 % set it at 
9 years, Pulse Asia said.

13 % want to raise it to 16 to 25 years old.

Those in Luzon excluding Metro Manila were found to be more in favor of 
retaining the minimum age of criminal liability (63 %), compared with their 
counterparts in Metro Manila (45 %) and the Visayas (47 %).

The survey period spanned Senate hearings hearings on the kidnap-slay of Korean 
businessman Jee Ick-joo, killings allegedly perpetrated by the Davao Death 
Squad, and the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison; the suspension of "Oplan 
Tokhang"; and the advancement of the death penalty at the House; among others.

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

Palace: Death penalty important for PH


Malacanang on Friday underscored the importance of reimposing death penalty in 
the Philippines amid declining public support for one of President Duterte's 
priority anti-crime measures.

"The reimposition of capital punishment is an important component in building a 
trustworthy government that protects its citizens and youth from crime, 
especially the kind perpetuated by illegal drug traffickers and violators," 
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Abella made the statement after a Pulse Asia survey revealed a drop in the 
number of Filipinos in favor of reviving the death penalty for heinous crimes: 
from 81 % in July last year to 67 % in March.

Waning public support for the reimposition of death penalty could be another 
stumbling block to President Rodrigo Duterte's pet measure.

The same survey also showed that 55 % of Filipinos prefer the minimum age of 
criminal liability to be kept at 15 years old. Duterte is pushing to bring the 
minimum age of criminal liability down to 9 years old.

Despite the 14-point decline, Abella said the remaining majority of Filipinos 
supportive of death penalty "is a timely reminder that a progressive nation is 
premised on law and order."

The spokesperson also expressed confidence that Congress will pass the measure.

The House of Representatives has already passed its version of the bill 
reviving the death penalty, while the measure is expected to face rough sailing 
in the Senate.

The United Nations has reminded the Philippines of its international obligation 
not to reimpose the death penalty, given the country's ratification of the 
Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which 
prohibits the reimposition of the death penalty.

(source for both: ABS-CBN news)



MALAYSIA:

Trio face death over syabu


2 brothers claimed trial at the High Court here Wednesday to trafficking 
293.04gm of syabu.

Tan Chun Cheng, 41, and Tan Choon Hui, 39, pleaded not guilty before High Court 
Judge Datuk Nurchaya Hj Arshad after the charge was read to them in Mandarin.

The duo were accused of trafficking the drug at 7.25pm on Dec 19, 2016 at the 
Towering Industrial Centre in Penampang.

They face the death penalty if convicted under Section 39B(1)(a) of the 
Dangerous Drugs Act.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Gan Peng Kun informed the court that the prosecution 
has 5 witnesses for the case.

Both Tan were represented by counsel PJ Perira.

The court set June 2 for pre-trial case management.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man also pleaded not guilty to trafficking 6,626gm of 
cannabis.

Mohd Izzan Azhar Abdullah allegedly committed the offence at 10pm on Sept 14, 
2016 in Kepayan here.

The offence also framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 
carries the death penalty on conviction.

Counsel Zahir Shah, representing Izzan, told the court that he would write a 
representation letter to the DPP's office.

Nurchaya fixed May 29 for pre-trial case management.

The court ordered both Tan and Izzan remanded further as the charge against 
them has no provision for bail.

(source: Daily Express)






INDIA:

SC upholds death penalty for 4 convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape case; options 
before them----There are only 3 options available before the 4 convicts -- 
review petition, curative petition and mercy petition.


In 1 step closer to justice for Nirbhaya, the Supreme Court on Friday upheld 
the death sentence given by Delhi High Court to the 4 convicts in the brutal 
gangrape and murder case of a 23-year-old paramedic on the night of December 
16, 2012. Calling the act as brutal, barbaric and diabolic, the court said the 
4 - Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur - deserved death 
penalty. The 3-judge Bench of Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok 
Bhushan said, "Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence 
committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence."

There are only three options available before the 4 convicts - review petition, 
curative petition and mercy petition.

If the High Court confirms the death penalty and it is also upheld by the 
Supreme Court, a convict can file a review petition within 30 days. In this 
case, convicts can only challenge the sentence as they have done it earlier. 
The review petition is heard by the same Bench in judges??? chamber and an 
application has to be filed if hearing has to be listed for open court.

If the review petition is rejected, they can file a curative petition. This is 
the last legal retort available to the convicts. The curative petition is heard 
by the three seniormost judges and in this case, it will be heard by Chief 
Justice of India JS Khehar, Justice Dipak Misra and Jasti Chelameswar. It is 
heard in judges' chamber but if an application is filed then the petition can 
be heard in the open court.

Given the number of evidences and dying declaration of the victim, it is very 
unlikely that there would be any change in the judgement.

The last option is mercy petition which is filed before the President. Even 
though a convict can appeal for the mercy till the last minute, but if it is 
rejected, then there are no options available.

After the brutal gangrape and murder of Nirbhaya, changes were brought in the 
law. On February 26, 2013, it was approved that the death sentence can be given 
in a rape case if the victim goes into coma, in permanent vegetative state or 
dies due to it.

6 men, including the 4 convicts, were found guilty of brutally raping a 23-year 
old physiotherapist inside a bus on December 16, 2012. The victim succumbed to 
injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. One of the 
primary suspects, Ram Singh, was found hanging inside a prison cell in Tihar 
jail in March 2013, while another suspect, a juvenile at the time of the crime, 
was given a sentence of 3 years inside a juvenile home. The juvenile walked 
free out of the juvenile home on December 18, 2015.

(source: india.com)






PAKISTAN:

Judgment announced: Convict gets death penalty, life term in triple murder case


A court awarded death sentence and life imprisonment to an accused in a triple 
murder case in Sialkot on Wednesday. The judgment was announced by Additional 
District and Session Judge Amjad Ali Bajwa.

The prosecution told the court that accused Shehzad had gunned down Afzaal, 
Iftikhar and Ehsan a few years ago in order to take revenge of an old dispute 
that was running between them. However, the police arrested him and registered 
an FIR.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs0.5 million that would be paid to the heirs 
of the victims.

Earlier on April 30, 2017, an additional and sessions court awarded death 
sentence to a man in a murder case in Dera Ghazi Khan. Additional District and 
Sessions judge Khizar Hayat handed down the death sentence to Farooq, who had 
opened fire on Hasan and his sons Majid and Qasim. The victims suffered bullet 
injures and Majid died at a hospital during treatment.

(source: The Express Tribune)