Sept. 21
AUSTRALIA:
Extradition covers death penalty
A long-standing convention not to extradite people out of Australia if
they face the death penalty has been abandoned.
This follows a secret agreement on air marshal operations with the US.
The Howard Government yesterday confirmed the agreement extended to the
possibility of handing over suspected terrorists on capital charges if
they were arrested en route to or from the US.
Australian and American air marshals have been on flights between the two
countries since the beginning of the year. Both governments have refused
to detail their operations in the face of the ongoing terrorist threat.
The agreement comes in the wake of the Howard Government and Federal
Opposition last year refusing to object to the then-imposition of the
death penalty on the Bali bombers.
But the air marshal agreement has raised legal issues, with extradition
expert Ned Aughterson, of Charles Darwin University, questioning its
validity in relation to the handover of alleged terrorists facing capital
charges.
Professor Aughterson said current Australian law prohibited an extradition
of a person to a foreign country if they faced execution. "It is firmly
established in the legislation that they can't hand over the person unless
they get an assurance that the death sentence would not be imposed," he
said.
The extradition law was gradually introduced following Australia's last
legal execution in 1967.
In written correspondence with The Courier-Mail, Justice Minister Chris
Ellison confirmed the possibility of extradition to the US of a prisoner
facing execution.
Senator Ellison was not available to be interviewed on the subject.
Requests for a detailed briefing on the agreement were refused.
But a spokesman for Senator Ellison sought to clarify his statement,
saying the Government had demanded the right "to negotiate" with the US if
an Australian was charged under American federal law with an offence
carrying the death penalty.
(source: The Courier-Mail)
SAUDI ARABIA:
Victims Father Pardons Killer on Death Row
"We do not want anything. We pardon him and seek only Allahs rewards,"
said the father of the young man who was murdered 4 years ago.
According to Al-Jazirah newspaper, the story began when a fight started
between Abdullah Al-Orabi, 18, and Alaa Al-Eali, 24, inside Shuhar sports
hall in Taif in 2000. Onlookers separated the 2 and they left the hall
only to come back at 10:30 p.m. to fight it out. Alaa pulled out a knife
he had hidden with him and stabbed Abdullah several times in the chest
killing him instantly. Police arrested the killer soon afterward.
Since the court sentenced him to death, the family of the killer kept
seeking the forgiveness of the family of the murdered youth. They offered
money and involved many mediators to solve the case. The father and
brothers of the murdered young man refused to forgive, saying they want
justice.
More than 16 elders from many tribes and Sheikh Saad Al-Buraik who
represented the office of Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Fahd offered SR15 million
in cash for the family in return for forgiveness. A blank check was also
offered but nothing short of punishment would satisfy the father.
But under the direction of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, the
Clemency and Reconciliation Committee did its best to gain the consent of
the family to pardon the killer.
Last Wednesday the committee members met with the father of the murdered
young man and talked to him for a long time to convince him of the
greatness of forgiveness until the moment came when the father suddenly
announced that he forgave the killer. He also announced that he does not
want anything from the killers family; he was only seeking Allahs rewards.
Naser Al-Zahrani, president of the clemency and reconciliation committee,
called Prince Abdul Majeed who talked to the father himself and thanked
him personally. As a reward, the family was invited to the washing
ceremony of the Holy Kaaba a few days ago. The father said to Al-Jazirah,
"These are very sensitive moments. Throughout the years, we refused to
forgive the killer and rejected all money offered for forgiveness. All
what I want after I forgave him is reward from Allah."
The brother of the murdered young man, Sultan Al-Orabi, said, "My father
was very sad ever since he buried my younger brother. I was telling my
father to forgive because what happened has happened and there is nothing
that we can do. But he persisted. I continued my effort until Sheikh Saeed
Al-Qahtani met with my father. He was touched by the sheikhs words and
decided to forgive him saying that he wants the rewards from Allah."
(source: Arab News)
