[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

April 16



AFGHANISTAN:

Karzai Should Suspend Death Penalty


Afghan President Hamid Karzai should suspend the death penalty and reject
signing execution orders for about 100 prisoners whose death sentences
were announced by the Supreme Court on April 16, Human Rights Watch said
today. Supreme Court officials told the media those sentenced to death had
been convicted of serious crimes, such as kidnapping, hostage taking,
armed robbery, murder, and rape. Legal experts and human rights
organizations in Afghanistan have long expressed concerns that
international due process and fair trial standards are generally not met
in capital cases.

"The Supreme Court's blanket confirmation of a hundred death sentences
shows disturbing disregard for the right to life," said Elaine Pearson,
Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch. "The Afghan justice system
still has a long way to go to respect the basic rights of the accused."

Under the Afghan criminal procedure code, death sentences handed down by
local criminal courts are reviewed by an appeals court, and then, if the
sentence stands, must be confirmed by the Supreme Court. Confirmed death
sentences must then be endorsed by the Afghan president.

Legal experts in Afghanistan told Human Rights Watch that in a number of
these criminal trials, the cases were not properly investigated and the
courts did not disclose crucial evidence leading to convictions.

Previously, prisoners in Afghanistan have been executed with little or no
warning. On October 7, 2007, the authorities executed by firing squad 15
prisoners who were on death row at Pule Charkhi prison. Neither the
prisoners nor their relatives were informed in advance about the
executions. All prisoners were on death row for crimes that had typically
been commuted to prison sentences in the past.

Human Rights Watch urged President Hamid Karzai not to sign the execution
orders, and instead to announce a moratorium on the death penalty.

"President Karzai should suspend the death penalty immediately," said
Pearson. "More mass executions will be a huge setback for the rule of law
in Afghanistan."

Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as an
inherently cruel and unusual form of punishment and a violation of
fundamental human rights.

(source: Human Rights Watch)