May 25
INDONESIA:
Child Rapists Face Death Sentence Now As President Approves New Law
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has approved a law prescribing the death
penalty as the maximum sentence for child rapists, after several brutal gang
rapes sparked public outrage in the country.
Sexual violence is prevalent in Southeast Asia's most populous country, but
gang rape is unusual.
Social media erupted in calls for harsher punishment following a case early
this month, in which a group of men was charged with raping and killing a
schoolgirl in Bengkulu in the western island of Sumatra. The case prompted
rights groups to accuse the government of not doing enough to protect women and
children, and provoked a tweet by Widodo himself seeking punishment of the
perpetrators, although his call came more than a month after the event.
Today however, Widodo said those responsible for sexual abuse of children, as
well as repeat sex offenders, could also face chemical castration and be tagged
with an electronic chip to track their movements, citing the law he signed.
"Sexual violence against children is an extraordinary crime," Widodo told a
news conference at the presidential palace. This regulation is meant to
overcome (such) incidents, in which we have seen a significant rise."
(source: wetinhappen.com.ng)
*****************
Indonesian president introduces death penalty for child rapists
President Joko Widodo on Wednesday (May 25) signed a government regulation in
lieu of the law approving the death penalty as a maximum sentence for sexual
crimes against children.
According to the regulation, offenders could face chemical castration and be
monitored with an electronic chip tracking their movements. Other forms of
punishment included in the bill extend to life imprisonment, as well as a
minimum of 10 to 20 years in jail.
"Sexual violence against children is an extraordinary crime," the President
said at a news conference at the presidential palace, adding that he hoped the
regulation would keep perpetrators in check and discourage sexual crimes.
The harsher stance for child rapists and perpetrators of sexual violence
against children comes after activists and masses called for reform, in the
wake of the brutal gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old-school girl in
Bengkulu on the western island of Sumatra in April.
The incident erupted on social media after activists spoke out, sparking public
outrage and prompting protests in the capital.
The National Commission on Violence against Women reportedly gets 35 cases of
sexual violence towards women every day. Indonesia meanwhile sentences rapists
to a maximum of 14 years in prison.
(source: channelnewsasia.com)
IRAN----executions
17 Prisoners Executed in Alborz Province
According to Iran Human Rights (IHR) sources 17 prisoners have been executed in
2 different prisons of Karaj (west of Tehran) on 24 and 25 May.
IHR had previously reported about the scheduled execution of 2 groups of
prisoners in Karaj. 6 prisoners were transferred on Sunday (May 22) from the
Karaj Central Prison and at leats 8 were transferred from Rajaishahr on Tuesday
(May 24) in preparation of execution.
According to close sources the 6 prisoners from the Central Prison were hanged
in Gehzelhesar prison of Karaj yesterday morning May 24. All the prisoners were
charged with drug offences.
Sources have also reported about the execution of 11 prisoners in the
Rajaishahr prison of Karaj early this morning. 10 of the prisoners were charged
with murder and 1 was sentenced to death charged with rape. 1 of the prisoners
identified as "Mehdi Rajaei" was reportedly under 18 years of age at the time
of alleged offence.
IHR is currently investigating to find more details regarding whether Mehdi
Rajai was a minor offender.
IHR strongly condemns the new wave of executions in the Iranian prisons. Near
60 people have been executed in different Iranian prisons since the beginning
of May. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: "Despite the
alarming rate of executions the international community has not shown any
reaction yet. We urge the UN, EU and all countries with diplomatic relations
with Iran to condemn these executions and call for an immediate moratorium for
the death penalty in Iran".
(source: Iran Human Rights)
OMAN:
State Council deliberates on draft law of new Omani Penal Code
Oman's penal code, covering rulings for the most serious crimes, could see
changes since it was first adopted in 1974.
The State Council has been holding marathon sessions to make amendments to the
law. Of the code's 398 articles, Council members discussed 172 on Tuesday at a
meeting that lasted from mid-morning to early evening.
The discussions will continue on Wednesday to prepare the code before it is
sent to His Majesty the Sultan.
Among the major proposals is setting a limit on the number of years in life
sentences. During its earlier review of the code, the Majlis A'Shura,
recommended setting it at 25 years. At Tuesday's meeting however, State Council
members disagreed with the proposal and argued to keep life sentences
indefinite. They did agree, however, that a convict could be released early
subject to good behaviour.
Another key change could be to allow pardons in crimes like murder that warrant
the death penalty. If the family of the victim agrees to a pardon, the death
sentence could be commuted to life term, a State Council member told the media.
Members also discussed electronic publishing, child protection and the method
of classifying government companies as government property, among others.
Amendments to the penal code originated with the Council of Ministers before
heading to the Majlis A'Shura for recommendations and to the State Council.
Several other measures too are up for debate.
These include changing the method of execution from hanging to firing squad and
adding a new section on combating piracy and assault on shipping vessels.
The new law also addresses the situation of crimes committed by expatriates.
According to one clause, expatriates who commit a crime abroad may be held
accountable for that in the sultanate.
(source: muscatdaily.com)
SUDAN:
Sudanese pastor may face death penalty after five month illegal detention
Fears were raised a Sudanese pastor could face the death penalty after the
government reportedly planned to charge him with crimes against the state.
Sudanese officials have engaged in a crackdown on Christians, according to ICC.
Pastor Taour was arrested on December 21 and has not been allowed to speak to
his family or lawyers until this week. His attorney insisted there was no case
against him but may face charges that carry the death penalty.
"We believe there is no case," Attorney Mohaned Mustafa told International
Christian Concern (ICC). "I think the case will be sent to the court this
month."
It was announced on May 10 that the Sudanese Attorney General would take over
Taour's custody, a sign that he would soon be charged. Although Sudanese law
dictates charges must be bought within 45 days of arrest, Taour had been held
for more than five months before he was charged.
It is believed the pastor now suffers a stomach ulcer due to his treatment and
was only recently allowed to see his family for the first time.
ICC's regional manager for Africa, Troy Augustine, said the Sudanese
government's treatment of Taour followed an "unsurprising pattern that has
continued for decades". He said the north African state had shown itself to be
an "enemy of religious freedom and one of the prime persecutor's of the church
in Africa".
Augustine said: "As Sudan continues to harass and unfairly detain church
leaders, the state proves itselfto stand for human rights and religious freedom
under the law, but hypocritical and contradictory in practice."
However Augustine said there was still hope for Taour as "Sudan often responds
to international pressure.
"ICC calls on everyone concerned to voice your protest with the Sudanese
Embassy."
(source: christiantoday.com)
PHILIPPINES:
DOH's Garin favors reimposition of death penalty 'for some cases'
Health Secretary Janette Garin on Wednesday said she is in favor of the
reimposition of the death penalty, but only "for some cases."
"I am very much supportive na ibalik yung death penalty for some cases because
when I was in Congress, we were not comfortable with taking that away," Garin,
a former Iloilo representative, said at a forum. In 2012, during her term as
lawmaker, Garin threw her support behind House Bill Nos. 4084 and 3993, which
sought the reimposition of the death penalty on capital crimes.
However, she said bringing back capital punishment, which was abolished in
2006, should be accompanied with cleansing of the justice system so that only
the truly guilty would be executed. Pushers Among the criminals Garin wants to
be given the death penalty are drug pushers who use minors in their illegal
trade. She said she heard reports of this during the ill-fated music concert in
Pasay City over the weekend where 5 people died. "It's actually double
jeopardy, we thought we were trying to protect our children. Eto, situation is
very clear, the children are being used and abused," Garin said.
"Effects Police said 2 of the 5 fatalities in Sunday's concert died due to
massive heart attack, which Garin said was a possible outcome of consuming the
drugs distributed at the concert grounds.
"Masyado siyang upper, bibilis yung tibok ng iyong puso made-dehydrate ka, yung
iba, yung BP niya magsho-shoot up. Yung iba nagha-hallucinate, they perspire,
they become extremely dehydrated, mag re-renal failure 'yan, iba maghe-heart
attack," she explained. Garin said the suppliers had no rights to take away
"the future of our country" by supplying the dangerous drugs to teenagers and
young professionals who merely wanted to have a good time.
(source: gmanetwork.com)
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