[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

May 16



MALAYSIA:

Malaysia Sentences 2 to Hang for Marijuana Trafficking, Iran Executes 9
Drug Sellers


Countries around the world, but particularly in Southeast Asia and the
Middle East, continue to resort to the death penalty for drug offenses.
This week, we report on more executions in Iran and death sentences for
marijuana in Malaysia.

On Tuesday, a Malaysian court sentenced 2 Thai citizens to death for
marijuana trafficking. The 2 men, Masoh Daloh, 35, and Romuelee Yakoh, 46,
were convicted in the Kuala Lumpur High Court of trafficking 75 pounds of
pot. They had been arrested in 2002 with 34 kilogram-sized slabs of
marijuana in their vehicle. Both men have appealed their sentences.

Malaysia has hanged more than 200 people, mostly its own citizens, for
drug trafficking offenses since it imposed the death penalty for them in
1975. It has come under recent criticism from Amnesty International over
secrecy surrounding its resort to the death penalty, but the government
denies any cover-up and insists the ultimate sanction is a necessary
deterrent to criminality.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities announced May 5 that they had hanged 12
convicted criminals, including 9 people convicted of drug offenses,
according to the anti-death penalty organization Hands Off Cain. The 9
drug offenders were hanged in the northeastern city of Bojnourd, not far
from the Afghan border. One of them was hanged in public, the 1st reported
public hanging since Iranian judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi
Sharoudi ordered an end to the macabre displays without his prior approval
in January.

(source: Drug War Chronicle)