Jan. 2
SAUDI ARABIA----executions
2 Lankans beheaded in Saudi for killing Sudanese accountant
2 Sri Lankans were on Friday executed in Saudi Arabia after they were
found guilty of robbing and murdering a Sudanese accountant.
Sod Karn Tabi and Miqra Safira were beheaded in Riyadh region after a
court convicted them of killing accountant Mahammed Al-Jak Mohammed, the
interior ministry said.
It pointed out that the culprits got into the victim's car, shot him by a
revolver and robbed off his money while he was coming out of a bank.
The 1st execution this year was carried out after being approved by a
cessation court and the supreme judicial council, the ministry said in a
statement carried by the SPA news agency.
Last year, the authorities had carried out at least 102 beheadings under
the strict Sharia law. Crimes like rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery
and drug trafficking all carry the death penalty.
Often the executions are carried out in public, prompting protests by
rights organisations.
(source: The Times of India)
IRAN:
Iranian teacher trade unionist at risk of execution
On 24 November, prison guards entered Farzad Kamangar's cell in Section
209 of Tehran's Evin prison. It is reported that the prison guards beat
Farzad Kamangar, threatened him with execution, and took him out of the
cell, along with some of his personal belongings. Later that day, another
prisoner reported seeing him in the prison clinic, apparently unconscious.
He is now believed to have been returned to his cell. In Iran, the removal
of a detainee from their cell often signals that the person may be
executed imminently. Amnesty International is therefore concerned that
despite a review of his case being underway, Farzad Kamangar remains at
risk of execution.
Farzad Kamangar was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence officials along
with 2 other members of the Kurdish minority, Ali Heydariyan and Farhad
Vakili, in Tehran around July 2006. The 3 men were sentenced to death on
25 February 2008 after being convicted of "moharebeh" (enmity towards
God), a charge levelled against those accused of taking up arms against
the state, in connection with their alleged membership of the armed group,
the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili also received additional sentences of 10
years' imprisonment for forging documents. Under Iranian law, they must
serve their prison sentences before being executed. The death sentences of
all 3 men were upheld by the Supreme Court.
However, Farzad Kamangar's lawyer has submitted his case to a judicial
review panel in an effort to have his death sentence overturned. Under
Iranian law, death sentences cannot be carried out while under review.
Prior to his trial, Farzad Kamangar was held incommunicado, tortured and
otherwise ill-treated, including by being beaten, flogged, and
electrocuted. He is now said to suffer from spasms in his arms and legs.
He was tried in unfair proceedings, during which his access to his lawyer
was restricted. Farzad Kamangar has been prohibited, on several occasions
and for prolonged periods of time, from seeing his lawyer and family
members.
Background:
Kurds, who are one of Iran's minorities, live mainly in the west and
north-west of the country, in the province of Kordestan and neighbouring
provinces bordering Kurdish areas of Turkey and Iraq. For many years, some
Kurdish political parties such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
(KDPI) and Komala - all of which are illegal in Iran - have taken up arms
against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Another armed group, the Kurdistan Independent Life Party (PJAK),
continues to carry out armed attacks against Iranian security and
government. Iran has accused foreign governments of fomenting unrest among
the country's ethnic minorities.
The scope of capital crimes in Iran remains extremely broad. Judges have
discretionary powers to impose the death penalty for certain offences,
including those relating to national security. No other person convicted
of membership of the PKK has been sentenced to death.
On 24 November, prison guards entered Farzad Kamangar's cell in Section
209 of Tehran's Evin prison. It is reported that the prison guards beat
Farzad Kamangar, threatened him with execution, and took him out of the
cell, along with some of his personal belongings. Later that day, another
prisoner reported seeing him in the prison clinic, apparently unconscious.
He is now believed to have been returned to his cell. In Iran, the removal
of a detainee from their cell often signals that the person may be
executed imminently. Amnesty International is therefore concerned that
despite a review of his case being underway, Farzad Kamangar remains at
risk of execution.
Farzad Kamangar was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence officials along
with 2 other members of the Kurdish minority, Ali Heydariyan and Farhad
Vakili, in Tehran around July 2006. The 3 men were sentenced to death on
25 February 2008 after being convicted of "moharebeh" (enmity towards
God), a charge levelled against those accused of taking up arms against
the state, in connection with their alleged membership of the armed group,
the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili also
received additional sentences of 10 years' imprisonment for forging
documents. Under Iranian law, they must serve their prison sentences
before being executed. The death sentences of all three men were upheld by
the Supreme Court. However, Farzad Kamangar's lawyer has submitted his
case to a judicial review panel in an effort to have his death sentence
overturned. Under Iranian law, death sentences cannot be carried out while
under review. Prior to his trial, Farzad Kamangar was held incommunicado,
tortured and otherwise ill-treated, including by being beaten, flogged,
and electrocuted. He is now said to suffer from spasms in his arms and
legs. He was tried in unfair proceedings, during which his access to his
lawyer was restricted. Farzad Kamangar has been prohibited, on several
occasions and for prolonged periods of time, from seeing his lawyer and
family members.
(source: Amnesty International UK)
