[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Feb. 16



UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:

Man accused of killing wife with acid sentenced to death in UAE----He poured 
acid on her body in front of three of their children.



A husband, who was accused of killing his wife by throwing acid on her because 
the woman wanted to divorce him, has been sentenced to death.

The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance handed down the verdict to the 
Emirati man after the woman's family refused to pardon the killer in exchange 
for blood money and insisted that the man be given the death penalty.

According to court documents, the Emirati mother of 6 filed for divorce after 
discovering the man had married for the 2nd time.

The divorce was not finalised as he was in prison at that time for drug-related 
crime and for issuing bad cheques.

Upon his release in February 2016, the man went to the home of his 1st wife and 
confronted her, accusing her of adultery.

The man allegedly checked his wife's phone for proofs for her extramarital 
relation, but when he could not find anything, he poured acid on her body in 
front of three of their children.

The couple's eldest son, now 17, and his younger brother also suffered burns 
while trying to rescue their mother. However, they managed to call the 
ambulance that took her to hospital.

The woman was admitted to Al Mafraq hospital before being flown to Germany to 
be treated by a burns expert but later died of her injuries.

She suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 70 % of her body.

Her family had also filed a temporary civil compensation suit against the man, 
demanding Dh200,000 in damages suffered because of the death of their relative 
and burns to the children.

Authorities said that while at the Al Wathba jail, the man had attempted to 
commit suicide twice by hanging himself, using clothes of other inmates.

The death sentence can be appealed within 14 days after the issuance of the 
ruling.

(source: Khaleej Times)








IRAN----executions

Mass Execution of 10 Prisoners and Mock Execution of 3 Others



In a situation where the waves of nationwide uprising and the wave of social 
protests shake, the foundations of the mullahs' regime, and the Iranian people 
unanimously demand overthrown of this criminal and ominous system, Khamenei is 
trying to delay his doomed regime by intensifying killings and executions.

On Wednesday morning, February 14th, the regime's executioners hanged 10 
prisoners collectively in a gruesome crime in Gohardasht Prison. The prisoners 
had been transferred to solitary confinement cells the day before awaiting 
their death sentence. One of the executed was an Afghan citizen.

The executioners laid 13 prisoners on the execution platform and put nooses 
around their neck. However, after observing the execution of 10 of their 
cell-mates, 3 of them were brought down and taken to their cells while they 
were not even able to talk after watching such a disturbing scene.

While expressing its deep disgust at this terrible crime and sympathizing with 
the executed families, the Iranian Resistance calls on the United Nations and 
all international human rights organizations to take immediate and effective 
action to stop executions in Iran. Trade with this savage regime should be 
conditional on the improvement of the human rights situation, and the leaders 
of this regime should face justice for crimes against humanity.

Iranian Resistance urges all people, especially the youth, to protest against 
the executions and support the families of the victims. These terrible crimes 
will not cure any problem for this falling regime, and it only adds to the 
anger of the people and their determination to overthrow this criminal system.

(source: Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran)








ZAMBIA:

Reinstatement of the death penalty attracts public support---- Move on death 
penalty rages on.



After an Alex News article Move to revive death penalty in Week ending 12 
January was published, the local community radio station was inundated with 
calls from victims which sparked a debate.

According to activist and convener, Mike Beea, the debate on the reinstatement 
of the death penalty attracted a lot of public support.

Beea said public debates on the topic also launched in Diepsloot, Tembisa and 
Rabie Ridge, and will soon go countrywide and will result in a petition to the 
government.

"The death penalty is the only deterrent to a crime culture that has normalised 
in our society - particularly violent killings which subject the victims to an 
'official death penalty'. This also causes the public to lose trust in the rule 
of law," he said.

"It's an effective deterrent in neighbouring countries and elsewhere where 
murder is rare."

He claimed that criminal cases fizzle out before getting to court, victims were 
intimidated into not reporting the crimes, and witnesses were discouraged 
because people believe criminals are not apprehended or they receive lenient 
sentences.

He said the dependents of murder victims were left traumatised for life and not 
compensated, leaving them impoverished while the perpetrators were released to 
roam the streets and intimidate them.

"The petition is society demanding the protection of their constitutional right 
to life, freedom of expression and movement, against criminals who know they 
will be treated well in prison," Beea added.

"Also, it will be the public's contribution to a Constitution ratified by 
political parties without a referendum, where essential aspects like a harsh 
penalty for violent crimes would have been considered."

He attributed crime to the many guns in circulation, saying they were 
introduced in black communities by the previous regime to incite black on black 
violence to protect that regime's interests.

He added that the current government has no clue on how to control the glut of 
guns, even among children.

"Criminals from countries with death penalties flock to the country knowing 
they will be treated well with taxpayers' money and won't be extradited nor 
will their governments be asked to care for them while in local prisons."

Beea also blamed poor investigations, saying this led to hardcore criminals 
being released to continue terrorising victims' dependents, even when there 
were protection orders against them.

He said the correctional services' rehabilitation programme failed young 
offenders by placing them with hardened criminals, resulting in them 
re-offending. He added that they also find out how to access heavy weapons and 
explosives, which destroy the economy, leaving many unemployed.

He urged for more stringent regulations on ownership of both guns and knives; 
and for public awareness programmes on the constitutional right to life, 
freedom and movement.

Shirley Mathaga of Alex FM, said the debate aired after the article attracted 
responses from orphans and widows of crime who called in and complained about 
struggling with trauma and poverty and living in fear of the perpetrators being 
released back into society without their knowledge or protection by the state.

Parents are also worried about escalating gangsterism in schools.

Activist Bhekumuzi Mathonsi urged for the revival of discipline in families, 
educating children on their constitutional rights and responsibilities; and he 
called for the right to life to include anti-abortion, with a drive for those 
seeking abortions to rather be encouraged to opt for foster care and adoption.

(source: alexnews.co.za)