April 14
NIGERIA:
Amnesty International says Nigeria had zero executions in 2015 but Kaduna state
begs to differ
Last week, Amnesty International released its annual report on death sentences
and executions in 2015. The report takes a look at countries all over the world
that still use the death sentence, looking at the number of executions carried
out in these countries. Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United States of America and
Pakistan currently have the highest numbers of executions. Saudi Arabia killed
at least 158 people, while Iran had 977 executions, most of them for
drug-related offences. Nigeria, in contrast, had 171 death sentences with no
execution while still retaining its death penalty laws. However, new reports
concerning the clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite followers in
Kaduna state Nigeria last year, suggest that Nigeria deserves to be a top
executioner like Saudi Arabia and Iran.
One of the worst attacks on civilians by the Nigerian Army occurred last year
when it attacked a procession of a Muslim sect in Nigeria. After the dust
settled, officials of the Kaduna state government, where the incident occurred,
finally released their findings about what went down. On their way to a
military ceremony late last year, members of the Nigerian Army and their Chief
of Staff, Tukur Buratai, were stopped by a procession of a Shiite Islamic group
in Nigeria, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) who people claim have been
radicalised. In a video circulated after the incident, after a few minutes,
Nigerian Army leaders were seen begging the procession to allow them pass
through, while young members of the procession were seen bearing sticks and
knives like they were going for a fight. The Nigerian army then attacked the
sect using live ammunition, baffling especially when their counterparts in
other nations have learnt to use rubber bullets and such to quell violence.
Reports after this became blurry and controversial as the head of the movement
El Zakzaky was arrested by the Army while the group's headquarters was
destroyed. Many reports of human rights abuse by the Nigerian Army and the
senseless killing of children and women emerged, but this latest report has put
a definite number on the number of Shiite followers killed by the Nigerian
Army: 347 civilians, including women and children.
The Kaduna state government said all 347 people were "given a mass burial in a
cemetery in Kaduna state" a few hours after they had been slaughtered by the
army, according to Muslim rites. This latest report confirms that the Nigerian
army is lawless, especially since the fight against Boko Haram started.
Different Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused
the Nigerian Army of human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings since the
fight against Boko haram started. And just like every panel set up by the Army
to allegedly investigate these killings, the panel set up to investigate the
Shiite killings is heading for a dead end.
This is an indictment on former Military General and current Nigerian
President, Muhammadu Buhari who has called himself a "reformed democrat" but
his media silence about the Army killings suggests the reformation happened to
his doppelganger in a parallel universe. Tukur Buratai could only have
authorised such disregard for human lives, especially the ones he swore to
protect, if he knew he was not receiving any censure from the
Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria's Armed Forces, Buhari. Nigerians would surely be
looking up to Amnesty International and the International Criminal Court to
bring the Nigerian Army to justice, since the Federal Government seems
reluctant to do so.
Amnesty International's report that Nigeria had no court-ordered execution in
2015 is true, but the number of indirect executions due to government
negligence and a glaring 'i-don't-care' attitude seems to suggest that we
deserve a higher position in the "Death sentence and Execution 2015 report."
(source: venturesafrica.com)
UGANDA:
Government Insists on Keeping Death Penalty
Attorney General Fred Ruhindi says since the Supreme Court ruling in the Susan
Kigula case ruled that the various provisions of the laws, which provide for
the mandatory death are inconsistent with the Constitution, courts are best
placed to make judgment.
(source: ugandaradionetwork.com)
EGYPT:
Diplomats attacked for accepting Egyptian authorities' word over Ibrahim Halawa
Diplomats have been criticised by a leading human rights body for accepting the
word of Egyptian authorities over the incarceration of an Irish teenager.
Ibrahim Halawa was transferred between prisons in recent days without the
knowledge of embassy staff in Cairo, Department of Foreign Affairs chiefs in
Dublin or his family.
He has been held without trial for almost three years and could face the death
penalty if convicted of involvement in protests over the ousting of the Muslim
Brotherhood.
Reprieve, a human rights group which campaigns to stop state executions, said
it was increasingly concerned over the 20-year-old's welfare.
Harriet McCulloch, deputy director at the agency, said it was shocking for both
the Egyptians to mislead Irish diplomats and for authorities in Dublin not to
demand more answers.
"Given recent widespread reports of enforced disappearances and deaths in
custody in Egypt, it's shocking that Irish officials appear to have been misled
over Ibrahim's whereabouts - and have taken the Egyptian authorities at their
unreliable word," she said.
"Ibrahim, who was just 17 when he was arrested, has already suffered an
unacceptable ordeal of torture, dire prison conditions, and an unlawful mass
trial - which could see him sentenced to death.
"The Irish Government must escalate their demands to see Ibrahim without delay,
and must challenge the Egyptian government on his appalling treatment."
Diplomatic chiefs in Dublin insisted Mr Halawa's case continues to receive high
priority in the department.
A series of meetings have been ordered by Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie
Flanagan amid the controversy, including sending the Irish Ambassador to Egypt
Damien Cole for talks in the Egyptian foreign ministry to highlight concerns.
Mr Flanagan will meet the Egyptian ambassador to Ireland Soha Gendi on
Thursday.
The department also said officials in the embassy in Cairo are to visit Mr
Halawa in jail in the coming days.
Reprieve said it was concerned amid widespread reports of so-called
disappearances of prisoners and deaths in Egyptian jails, including in the case
of Italian student Giulio Regeni.
The 28-year-old Cambridge student's body was found in a roadside ditch outside
Cairo on February 3, more than a week after he disappeared.
Meanwhile, Mr Halawa is understood to have been moved from Tora prison in Cairo
to the Wadi el Natrun prison, north of the city, several days ago.
He was 17 when he was detained while taking refuge in a mosque near Cairo's
Ramses Square as a "day of rage" was held over the removal of president Mohamed
Morsi.
The mass trial he is facing, along with more than 400 others, has been
repeatedly postponed since his detention in 2013.
Mr Halawa's detention has been raised in the European Parliament in Brussels
and in a letter from leading human rights lawyers in London to British Prime
Minister David Cameron.
Reprieve said that a report on the death penalty in Egypt last year found that
more than 70% of recent death sentences were handed down in relation to
protests. The report also detailed the frequency of torture and incommunicado
detention in the country's prisons.
Mr Halawa, from Firhouse in Dublin, was initially arrested with 3 of his
sisters.
His lawyers, who were refused access to him until September, said he was denied
medical treatment for a gunshot wound to his hand following his arrest and he
has been left permanently disfigured as a result.
Somaia Halawa, Ibrahim's sister, said the family's dealings with Irish
diplomats had been disappointing on a number of occasions.
She said the department had not informed them of the planned meetings between
officials in Dublin or Cairo as the final trial looms in late June in the
courthouse beside Wadi el Natrun.
"That is what is making our campaign a bit harder," she said.
"We feel we have 2 fights with two governments. You feel you are not just
having a problem with Egypt but a problem with the Irish Government."
Ms Halawa said she got confirmation of where Ibrahim was being held after
another brother, Ahmed, made contact with him.
(source: The Independent)
INDIA/SRI LANKA:
BJP claims it stopped death penalty on 5 Indians in Sri Lanka
BJP President Amit ShahIndia's ruling BJP says it ensured that the death
penalty given to five fishermen in Sri Lanka was not carried out.
BJP President Amit Shah also claimed that due to the steps taken by the Modi
Government, the firing at Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy had
stopped.
Indian news agencies said that while speaking to reporters in Tiruchirapalli,
around 340 km from Chennai, after chairing a party meeting today, Shah alleged
that that the AIADMK, DMK as well as the Congress were corrupt parties.
The Bharatiya Janata Party can provide the alternative to the existing
political parties in the state, Shah said.
He said Tamil Nadu voters normally voted out a Government but in the May 16
assembly elections, they should decide which party must come to power.
He added that the BJP could provide the "alternative" Tamil Nadu was seeking.
The BJP will give a transparent and good governance, he said.
According to him, the AIADMK and DMK had ruled Tamil Nadu alternatively for the
past nearly 50 years and it was time for a change.
The BJP leader said Tamil Nadu had not progressed because of corruption.
He said that due to the non-cooperation of the state government, central
Government schemes were not being implemented in Tamil Nadu.
(source: Colombo Gazette)
GLOBAL:
Where In The World Is Homosexuality Punished By The Death Penalty
There are many countries and states where homosexual acts could land you the
death penalty. Of these countries all are located in Central Africa or in the
Middle East.
There are the countries places on earth that have specific laws which call for
the death penalty of those who are found to have engaged in homosexual acts.
Afghanistan----Men could face execution, but are more likely to receive long
prison sentences. No executions are known to have been handed out since the end
of the Taliban rule.
Brunei*----Gay men in Brunei could be stoned or given 10 years in prison if
found guilty of homosexual acts.
Iran----In Iran gay men can be lashed up to 74 times for "immature men" and the
death penalty for mature men of sound mind - and where the acts were
consenting. Women can be lashed 50 times and can face the death penalty after
their fourth conviction.
Mauritania----Homosexuality is against the law in Mauritania and could attract
the death penalty however there have been no public executions since 1987.
Qatar---In Qatar gay men may face execution if they are Muslim otherwise men
can face fines and a prison sentence which lasts 7 years.
Saudi Arabi----A 2nd conviction of homosexuality in Saudi Arabia will land a
death penalty. For first offence men can face fines, castration, flogging,
prison and torture.
Sudan----Homosexuality has been illegal in Sudan since 1899. Death penalty
occurs on the 3rd offense for men and 4th offense for women.
Yemen----Married men can expect to be stoned to death if caught having same-sex
relations. Unmarried men will receive 100 lashes or one year imprisonment.
* Brunei is a Sovereign state and not a country.
Countries where you might be executed if you're found to be gay.
There are some countries where although capital punishment might not be
constitutionally ratified there are cases where gay people have been killed
because of their sexuality.
Libya----Gay men could face death in Libya.
Nigeria----Homosexuality is illegal in some states of Nigeria and could attract
the death penalty. These states include: Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara
Somalia----Homosexuality is illegal in Somalia and could attract a death
penalty. Syria----The actual penalty that gay men should face for homosexual
acts is prison for up to 3 years, however due to the rise in ISIS a highly
advertised death awaits those found guilty of engaging in same-sex sexual acts.
(source: thegayuk.com)
BANGLADESH:
Son, lawyers meet Mir Quasem
Condemned war criminal Mir Quasem Ali has claimed that the government is
conspiring to punish him based on false allegations.
Quasem's son barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem alias Arman and 2 other lawyers met
him at Kashimpur jail yesterday morning, said Jailer Nashir Ahmed. They stayed
there for around 45 minutes.
"My father is in a good state. He said 'I did not do anything wrong. Death is
decided by Allah, not any human being. They are conspiring to punish me on
totally baseless allegations,"' Arman told reporters.
After the apex court upheld Mir Quasem's death penalty on March 8, his family
members and lawyers met him at the jail on March 12 and April 9. The full text
of the judgement is yet to be published, following which the convict would get
15 days to file a review petition against the verdict.
Arrested in 2012, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem enjoyed division in the
jail until 2014. Later he was shifted to the condemned cell.
(source: dhakatribune.com)
******************
HC likely to start hearing death reference, appeals in May ---- Says Deputy
Attorney General Shaikh AKM Moniruzzaman Kabir
The High Court is likely to start hearing the death reference and appeals in
the Ramna Batamul bomb blast case in the 1st week of May.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain might begin
the hearing on May 5, said Deputy Attorney General Shaikh AKM Moniruzzaman
Kabir, adding that the death reference and appeals have been included in the
hearing list of the HC bench as per sequence.
A Dhaka court on June 23, 2014 handed down death penalty to 8 militants of
Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji), including its top leader Mufti Abdul Hannan
Munshi, for killing 10 people in the attack on the Chhayanaut function during
the Pahela Baishakh celebration at Ramna Batamul in 2001.
6 other militants of the banned Islamist outfit were sentenced to life
imprisonment for their involvement in the blasts.
Later, 8 of the condemned accused filed 9 separate appeals with the HC
challenging the trial court verdict on them, added DAG Moniruzaman.
(source: The Daily Star)
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