[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Feb. 11



INDIA:

Seminar on capital punishment held in Srinagar



People from every nook and corner of the valley, hailing from different walks 
of life participated in a daylong seminar organized by Awami Ittihaad Party 
(AIP) in Srinagar on Saturday. Breaking all traditions the seminar was presided 
by a 90 year brave heart namely Sabaz Ali who had lost his 3 sons and is 
feeding nearly a dozen orphans.

All the speakers mostly heirs of martyrs and victims of violence took the 
pledge that Kashmiris will never succumb to pressure tactics and use of brutal 
force by New Delhi as they are seeking resolution to Kashmir dispute through 
Right to self determination for the larger interests of people of the sub 
continent.

Tears were rolling down from the eyes of the participants when dozens of the 
parents and others spoke how army and security agencies butchered their near 
and dear ones during last 30 years but New Delhi not only denied the justice 
but did everything to prove innocent unarmed civilians as terrorists. Justice 
Hasnain through his speech send in writing and was readout at the seminar said 
that death penalty once executed leaves no room for correction of error and 
undue mistrial.

He said severe punishment like death penalty presupposes fair trial. Referring 
to Afzal Guru's and Maqbool Bhat's hangings Justice Masoodi said "In case of 
Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Mohammad Afzal Guru the principles of fair trial are 
fair execution were never followed.

In case of Maqbool Bhat the sentence was imposed in 1968 and executed in 1984 
after 16 long years. The Supreme Court has time and again laid down that where 
for one or the other reason the execution of death penalty gets delayed, it 
should not be executed as the prisoner in the prison cell dies almost daily.

While awaiting the execution and the long delays itself dehu???manizing even 
long pendency of the punishment and the death sentence should have been 
commuted. In case of Afzal Guru the execution of death sentence was hurried and 
though far behind in the queue the sentence was executed that too without 
information to his family.

In both the cases it is highly doubtful whether adequate legal assistance was 
provided during the trial. None from the legal luminaries came forward to 
defend them and it was left to the trial court to appoint an amicus curie".

Speaking on the occasion Er. Rasheed reiterated that Kashmiris are not enemies 
of India and they will be the biggest beneficiaries of peace between India and 
Pakistan. He said "Had hanging been a solution, no one would have dared to take 
up to arms after Maqbool Bhat's hanging and after Afzal Gurus hanging what 
happened in Kashmir is ample reason to conclude that death punishment should be 
abolished"

. Er. Rasheed added that while Hurriyat represents sentiments and sacrifices of 
People of J&K, the need of the hour is that Hurriyat Leadership should earn 
well wishers for the movement and not count everyone on the other side. He said 
the fight is much much bigger as New Delhi is doing everything to divide 
Kashmiris, creating confusions and avoids a resolution. If Kashmiris are not 
united and lack a proper workable strategy, masses will just go on sacrificing 
and leaders will continue to wait for searching opportunities to propagate 
their agenda whatsoever".

Er. Rasheed added that whatsoever valid questions Afal Guru's wife has raised 
from time to time we all need to introspect and find the answers.

Er. Rasheed condemned behavior of the police and civil adminis???tration for 
cancelling the permission granted for holding seminar in Hotel Lala Rukh and 
said that party was informed at 11:00 PM in the night about the decision and 
the act was just yet one more evidence of frustration on part of the Govt. He 
thanked people from all walks of life for making their presence to the seminar 
and listening around 35 speakers during the day. Prominent lawyers, political 
activists and scholars explained in detail how was the capital punishment a 
disaster throughout the world and a barrier in establishing peace.

(source: Kashmir Observer)








IRAN:

UN Rights Experts Urge Iran to Annul Death Sentence Against Ahmadreza Djalali



United Nations human rights experts* have repeated their urgent call to Iran to 
annul the death sentence against Iranian academic Ahmadreza Djalali amid 
reports that his latest legal attempt to challenge the sentence has been 
rejected.

"We urgently call on Iran to lift the death sentence imposed on Dr. Djalali, as 
the State has apparently not complied with its international obligations to 
give him a fair trial and the right to appeal," the experts said in a joint 
statement released in Geneva.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports from Dr. Djalali's legal team that his 
application for judicial review of the death sentence has been dismissed by the 
Supreme Court, apparently without any review process or explanation. This 
contravenes Iran's obligations under international law and we strongly condemn 
it.

"We also profoundly regret that the authorities have disregarded our earlier 
call to bring this trial into line with international standards," they added.

"We urge the authorities to annul the death sentence against Dr. Djalali and to 
release him."

The death penalty violates human dignity, they added, and may amount to cruel, 
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Dr. Djalali, a lecturer, medical doctor and researcher in disaster medicine who 
is a resident of Sweden, was detained in April 2016. The UN experts believe the 
violations of his rights to due process and a fair trial have included 
incommunicado detention, denial of access to a lawyer, and forced confession. 
Dr. Djalali was sentenced to death on 21 October 2017. Information received 
indicates that he was not given a meaningful opportunity to appeal against his 
conviction.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has previously called for Dr. 
Djalali's immediate release and for him to be accorded the right to 
compensation and other reparations, after finding his deprivation of liberty 
was arbitrary and breached the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including his rights to 
effectively challenge the legality of detention, to a fair trial and to an 
effective defence.

UN experts have previously raised their concerns about Dr. Djalali's case 
directly with the Iranian authorities, including in a communication issued in 
February 2017. At the time the Government responded noting that Dr. Djalali had 
been charged with "corruption on the earth" and had been allowed meetings with 
his lawyers and phone calls with his family. In November 2017, experts 
expressed grave concern at the death sentence handed down to Dr. Djalali. On 
that occasion, the Government chose not to respond.

(source: Iran Human Rights)