Oct. 16
IRAN:
UN experts slam execution of minors in Iran
United Nations human rights experts expressed "outrage and profound sadness"
Friday at Iran's execution of 2 juvenile offenders, urging the country to "stop
killing children."
Fatemeh Salbehi was hanged on Tuesday after being found guilty for killing a
man she had been forced to marry when she was just 16, becoming the 11th woman
to be executed in Iran this year, along with around 700 men.
The UN experts pointed to reported flaws in her trial and appeals process, and
warned her execution was a clear breach of international law banning condemning
juvenile offenders to death.
They also decried the execution a week earlier of Samad Zahabi, who was
sentenced to death in March 2013 for killing a fellow shepherd when he was just
17.
"No notice was provided to Mr. Zahabi's family, nor was the required 48-hour
notice provided to his lawyer," the experts said in a statement.
Ahmed Shaheed, the UN's top expert on the rights situation in Iran, said the
two executions were "disturbing examples of surging execution rates and
questionable fair trial standards in the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The UN expert on summary executions, Christof Heyns, meanwhile slammed the
executions as "unlawful killings committed by the State, the equivalent of
murders performed by individuals."
"These are profound tragedies that demean the value of human life and sully the
reputation of the country," he said, pointing out that "executing a juvenile
offender, especially after a questionable trial, directly contravenes the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the
Rights of the Child."
"Iran must immediately stop killing children," he insisted.
Dubravka Simonovic, the expert UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women,
highlighted the court's lack of consideration for the circumstances surrounding
Salbehi's crime, which she said were "emblematic of the struggles victims of
domestic abuse face in the judicial system."
"We cannot ignore the serious consequences of psychological, sexual and
physical violence in the home on a woman's physical and psychological health,"
she said.
Highlighting Salbehi's young age at the time of her marriage and her lack of
consent, Simonovic voiced concern over the high numbers of early and forced
marriages in Iran.
The 3 experts called on Tehran to immediately establish a moratorium on
executions and work towards abolishing the death penalty all together.
(source: france24.com)
TANZANIA:
Govt Condemns 'Biased' Albino Film
The government has expressed disappointment over a biased film on the plight of
people with albinism under the title, "The Boy from Geita" that played down
efforts by the state and different stakeholders to combat the scourge.
Speaking from the UN Headquarters in New York where the film was meant to be
shown, the Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Dr
Pindi Chana, said the government had done a lot including undertaking legal,
administrative and political measures to stop the misfortune and cruelty.
"President Jakaya Kikwete has vigorously condemned this senseless cruelty and
demanded an immediate stop. He did not stop there but has taken concrete
measures. Regrettably, some individuals and entities have transformed the
plight of our people as a source of generating fame and/or income.
These have resorted to exaggerations, drama and blatant disregard of the
positive measures taken by the country in collaboration with affected
communities, religious leaders and local and international non-governmental
organisations.
Unfortunately, the authors and producers of the film have decided to portray a
different picture on the ground. The film is meant to show how persons with
albinism in Tanzania and other parts of Africa live in fear of violent attacks.
The documentary is also meant to inspire more people to be part of the action
that is needed to create change, but also to celebrate the good work of
Canadians whose "capacity for goodness' can make a difference.
"But we (Tanzania) are disappointed that the producers and organisers of the
film have seen no value of engaging the Government of the United Republic of
Tanzania in an undertaking best served by common objectives and action," she
said.
Advancing national, regional and global awareness of the human rights situation
of persons with albinism is a collective responsibility. However, the Deputy
Minister was explicit on the existence of the challenge saying; "We are not
denying existence of the horrific tragedies.
Indeed, from 2006 to date, authorities have made about 139 arrests of persons
suspected of carrying out attacks against persons with albinism.
35 of these were arraigned, 25 cases have been concluded, with 15 convictions
and 75 acquittals. 13 of the convicted were given the maximum penalty in the
land (death penalty). Their fate is yet to be decided, owing to Tanzania's
moratorium on death penalty," she clarified.
She added, that in recognition of the special healthcare requirement of persons
with albinism, the government guarantees free healthcare for all persons with
albinism. Key in this endeavour is the prevention of skin cancer to this
vulnerable group.
"In collaboration with the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) and other
stakeholders, the government is working to establish a database of all persons
with disabilities, in a view to ensure their needs are catered for in the
national and municipal plans.
Among other corrective measures taken include a crackdown on witch doctors and
traditional healers who are responsible for orchestrating the attacks against
persons with albinism. Almost 200 witch doctors and traditional healers were
arrested and 123 had been arraigned.
"Pressure for action at local level will never be meaningful and effective as A
result of distortions from New York or foreign capitals. As a country we are
making broadbased interventions driven by the conviction that the tragedy
confronting our fellow citizens is both a heinous crime and deserves severe
punishment," she concluded.
(source: Tanzania Daily News)
PAKISTAN:
Pakistan hangs over 200 convicts since March ---- Militancy-hacked Pakistan had
lifted moratorium on death penalty after deadly gun-and-bomb attack on army-run
school in Peshawar
With the execution of 5 more convicts, including the killer of a former
provincial chief minister Thursday, Pakistan has now executed over 200
prisoners since March following an end to a six-year long de facto ban on
capital punishment, officials said.
Militancy-hacked Pakistan had lifted the moratorium on the death penalty after
a deadly gun-and-bomb attack on an army-run school in the northwestern city of
Peshawar, in which over 140 people, mostly students, were killed by militants
loyal to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Pakistani activists and international rights groups, including Human Rights
Watch, had criticized the government's decision.
(source: newsfultoncountry.com)
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