[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 26



SAUDI ARABIA:

Saudi prosecutor builds case against Al Qaida men on trial----Prosecutor says 
men pretending to surrender to authorities in order to gather intelligence 
about their security



2 Yemeni Al Qaida militants are standing trial in Riyadh for allegedly planning 
a terrorist operation.

They were instructed by the terrorist group to call the Ministry of Interior 
and tell them that they planned to surrender themselves to Saudi security 
authorities, according to the public prosecutor.

The men worked to gain the trust of 1 ministry officer by feeding him false 
information and details of the group.

Once they established his trust they agreed to meet at a security point on the 
Saudi-Yemeni border.

However, during their meeting the officers became aware that the men were 
misleading them and only wanted to gather details about the security situation 
at that border post and were immediately arrested, the Saudi daily Okaz 
reported on Thursday.

The 1st defendant, 32, was charged with being a member of Al Qaida in Yemen, 
plotting to carry out a suicide attack, communicating with a Daesh terrorist in 
Syria, smoking hashish and renegging on a pledge he made 5 years ago when he 
was released from prison over another security-linked case.

Charges against the 2nd defendant, 34, included being a member of Al Qaida and 
Daesh, plotting with the 1st defendant to carry out a terrorist attack and 
giving false and misleading information to Saudi authorities for cash.

He was also charged with funding terror attacks by purchasing arms for Al 
Qaida.

The prosecutor requested the death penalty for the 2 defendants or the maximum 
penalty stipulated by the law.

The accused told the Specialised Criminal Court they wanted some time to 
prepare their defence against the charges.

(source: Gulf News)








IRAN:

A Scientist's Appeal for Retrial



Ahmad Reza Jalali (Djalali), Iranian physician and researcher whose death 
sentence was approved by the Supreme Court, is requesting a retrial.

According to a close source, Ahmad Reza Djalali's death sentence was approved 
by branch 1 of the Supreme Court in November, but he has requested a retrial.

Being formally invited by Tehran University, Ahmad Reza Djalali travelled to 
Iran but was arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on his way 
to Karaj on April 24, 2016. He spent three months at the detention centre of 
the Ministry of Intelligence. Now Iranian authorities claim that he is 
convicted of "espionage and collaboration with enemies".

"Dr. Djalali's case is sent to branch 33 of the Supreme Court for a retrial but 
it hasn't been processed or objected so far," Told an informed source about 
Ahmad Reza Djalali's case to Iran Human Rights (IHR).

He also said, "Dr. Djalali might still get executed unless the sentence is 
suspended. He is in a terrible physical condition and he is getting weaker and 
thinner every day."

Ahmad Reza Djalali lived in Sweden since 2009 where he had the permanent 
residence. He worked as a researcher in the field of crisis management at 
Karolinska University in Stockholm.

On Tuesday, January 24, Alaeddin Borujerdi, the head of Majlis' National 
Security Commission who was in Brussels, accused Ahmad Reza Djalali of 
participating in the terror of nuclear scientists in a press conference.

Mr. Djalali is currently held at Evin Prison and rejects all the accusations, 
and he also denied all the accusations the Ministry of Intelligence made 
against him through a documentary.

(source: Iran Human Rights)

**********

Imminent Execution for Ramin Hussein Panahi



UNPO has been informed by the "International Network of Iranian Kurdistan Human 
Rights" that Ramin Hussein Panahi, a Kurdish Iranian who had been sentenced to 
death on 25 October 2017, is now in danger of imminent execution.

Ramin Hussein Panahi was shot and arrested on 23 June 2017, in Sanandaj ,a city 
in Iranian Kurdistan, after meeting with Kurdish citizens to inform them on 
human rights issues. After his detention, he was not allowed to get medical 
treatment nor to receive visits. After 124 days and 23 requests at different 
governmental branches - from the IRGC to Iran's secret service - Ramin's family 
remained unaware of his whereabouts and health conditions.

In response to Ramin's family members' quest to obtain information about him, 
Iranian authorities detained 3 of his relatives: his brother, Afshin Hussein 
Panahi, his brother in law, Ahmad Hussein Panahi, and Zobeir Hussein Panahi. 
All 3 were sentenced to imprisonment for respectively 9, 5 and 6 years, 
following an unjust trial on the 25 October 2017. On 26 October 2017, Ramin's 
mother and sister were informed by the Iranian authorities that he was awaiting 
his death penalty and that they would be informed after his execution.

On 25 January 2018, the "International Network of Iranian Kurdistan Human 
Rights" received information from his family that Ramin's case was again being 
discussed at the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court and that they had plans to 
execute him within 20 days, following an unjust trial convicting him of acting 
against the national security and for being a member of the Komala Party.

His lawyer, Hossein Ahmadinez, confirmed he will protest against Ramin's 
conviction and mentioned that "the membership of his client in a political 
opposition party should not be the basis for issuing a death sentence".

Over the past few years, the Iranian authorities have executed thousands of 
individuals belonging to national minorities following unjust trials.

(source: unpo.org)








AZERBAIJAN:

MP: PACE recommendations not enough to prevent death penalty use



Recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) 
are insufficient to prevent the use of the death penalty, Azerbaijani MP Ganira 
Pashayeva said at the PACE winter session in Strasbourg on Jan. 26.

"Torture and death penalty are strictly prohibited in the area of the Council 
of Europe. Cruelty, degrading treatment and punishment are also prohibited. 
Moreover, the ban on torture has already become an obligatory rule of 
international law. The 6th article of the convention, which was ratified by all 
members of the Council of Europe, abolishes the death penalty. Therefore, the 
Council of Europe really needs to strengthen its positions in this field," said 
the MP.

It is clear that the trade in goods used for torture and the death penalty is 
unacceptable, Pashayeva noted.

"Unfortunately, contrary to the principles and obligations of our organization, 
such goods are still produced, delivered to the market and are in circulation 
in the member states. It is necessary to more strictly regulate the trade in 
such supplies," she said.

"If we do not prohibit such trade, we will not cope with preventing the use of 
torture and the death penalty in the world. The PACE recommendations in this 
area are not enough. I support the establishment of a global alliance. This is 
an important step towards stopping such illegal practices," added the 
Azerbaijani MP.

The Azerbaijani delegation headed by chairman of the parliamentary committee on 
international and interparliamentary relations, Samad Seyidov, has been 
participating in the PACE winter session in Strasbourg since Jan. 21.

The delegation includes chairman of the parliamentary committee on culture 
Rafael Huseynov, MPs - Sahiba Gafarova, Sevinj Fataliyeva, Ganira Pashayeva, 
Ulviya Agayeva, Sabir Hajiyev, Elshad Hasanov, Vusal Huseynov, Fazil Mustafa, 
Asim Mollazade and Rovshan Rzayev.

(source: trend.az)