July 25
INDIA:
Majority of 1st time offenders get death sentence - Survey report
Death Penalty India recently conducted a survey which revealed that 60% of the
criminals belong to uneducated poor families who have been given death
sentence.
There 241 criminals out of 385 who committed crime for the 1st time. The
members of the survey committee interviewed 373 criminals out of 385. It was
revealed that 60% of the did not even complete secondary education.
The criminals who are awarded death sentence did not get legal aid. In India,
there is a system of provide legal aid to the criminals who can't afford to
appoint defence counsel but it is hardly implemented.
(source: Siasat News)
***************
Goa: Rane wants death penalty for drug peddlers
Fearing that the coastal state may turn into an "Udta Goa", Leader of
Opposition in Assembly, Pratapsinh Rane today recommended death penalty for
drug peddlers.
Notably, the recently released Bollywood film "Udta Punjab" was based on the
drug abuse in the northern state.
"I caution you. We have seen 'Udta Punjab' movie, we might have 'Udta Goa'
considering the situation in the state. We go on blaming people of some foreign
nationalities, but the consumers are local boys and girls," Rane said, during a
discussion on budget on the floor of the House today.
"Where do they get the drugs from? This is going on in the hinterland. There
are people who are growing banana trees and between them grow ganja or opium,"
he pointed out.
"It's terrible. This is happening in many parts outside the state. It kills a
person. I have moved a resolution before the House saying that give them (drug
peddler) death penalty because they kill young people. They should be punished
on the lines of (punishment awarded in) Singapore," Rane said.
"They should not be allowed to kill people. We find these fellows hanging
around the schools and colleges. There are areas where they hang out," he told
the House.
(source: Press Trust of India)
INDONESIA:
House members divided on death penalty
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo should evaluate the effectiveness of the death
penalty in reducing crimes and be aware that it violates human rights, a
legislator has said.
"The President needs to know that being decisive does not mean forgetting human
values," Benny K. Harman, deputy chief of the House of Representatives'
Commission III overseeing legal affairs, human rights and security, said at the
House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
The Democratic Party politician further said that President Jokowi also needed
to re-evaluate judicial processes for drug convicts waiting to be executed, to
ensure the fairness of their legal process.
Attorney General M Prasetyo said earlier that the 3rd round of executions of
several drug convicts would take place after Idul Fitri on Nusakambangan prison
island in Cilacap, Central Java.
On Sunday, Merri Utami, a condemned drug convict, was moved to an isolation
cell in Nusakambangan. Merri was sentenced to death for carrying 1.1 kilograms
of heroin at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in 2003. The transfer was
carried out not long after the Supreme Court rejected a 2nd case review request
filed by the also condemned Freddy Budiman on Friday. Freddy was found guilty
of smuggling 1.4 million ecstasy pills from China and sentenced to death by the
West Jakarta District Court in 2012.
Meanwhile, Commission III member Muhammad Syafi'i of the Gerindra Party said
that the death penalty was still needed as convicts punished with life
imprisonment could earn remission.
He said criminals like drug dealers had to be executed because the crimes they
committed threatened the country's future generations.
***********************
Nusakambangan prisons temporarily halt family visits as executions draw nearer
Visiting rights for family members of all prisoners on Nusakambangan prison
island in Cilacap, Central Java, have reportedly been temporarily halted.
At Wijayapura Quay in Cilacap, a number of visitors who had come to visit their
relatives in Nusakambangan were denied passage to the prison island on Monday,
Kompas.com reported. They left Wijayapura Quay after meeting with officers at
the crossing point security post.
One of the visitors, Nasiroh, 60, said she wanted to visit her son who is
currently serving a sentence in Besi Prison. "The officers wouldn't allow me to
cross to the island. They said family visits to Nusakambangan would be
temporarily closed for this whole week," said Nasiroh, a resident of Sampang,
Cilacap. She said none of the officers gave her clear information about the
reason family visits had been temporary closed.
Information obtained from officials at the Wijayapura Quay reveals that a
notification about the temporary closure of family visits had been delivered to
families of prisoners since last week. But families were not given specific
reasons for the closure, which will be in effect for 1 week starting from
Monday.
It is suspected that the temporary closure of family visits is related to the
executions of drug convicts, which will reportedly be conducted in the near
future.
The closure of visiting time for families of prisoners on Nusakambangan prison
island has always been conducted ahead the executions of death-row convicts,
Antara news agency reported.
Merri Utami, a death-row inmate convicted of drug trafficking, has been moved
to Nusakambangan. The Sukoharjo resident had been serving her sentence at the
Tangerang Women's Penitentiary in Banten since 2004 before she was moved to
Nusakambangan under tight security escort at around 4:30 a.m. local time on
Sunday. Merri was sentenced to death for being caught with 1.1 kilograms of
heroin at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, in 2003.
(source for both: Jakarta Post)
**********************
AGO Prepares to Execute Drug Convicts
President Joko Widodo has expressed his support for the Attorney General's
Office to execute drug convicts. "I have not seen or hear any doubt about it
[death row] from the President," the presidential spokesman Johan Budi Sapto
Pribowo told Tempo yesterday, July 24, 2016.
Johan said that death row will continue to be performed as Indonesian legal
system still has it as one of applicable punishments. Moreover, he believed
that the AGO as the executioner had made thorough considerations. "Everything
have been considered," he said. However, Johan said that he has yet to receive
any information on when the AGO will perform the executions.
The plan to perform the third round of executions of drug convict has
resurfaced after the Supreme Court last weak rejected a judicial review
requested by ecstasy baron Freddy Budiman. Another death row convict, Merri
Utami, was transferred Saturday from Tangerang women's prison, Banten, to Batu
prison, Nusakambangan, Cilacap, Central Java. "The transfer [was made] upon
request from the AGO," the correction division head, Banten Ministry of Justice
and Human Rights, Enny Purwaningsih told Tempo yesterday.
The transfer of Sukoharjo-born women had strongly been linked with death
penalty because Nusakambangan has no women's prison. In previous round of
execution, transfer of women death row convict to Nusakambangan were also made
several days before execution, as experienced by Rani Andriani in the 1st round
and Mary Jane Veloso-whose execution was cancelled- in the 2nd round last year.
Mary's transfer was made after the transfer of other death row convicts to
Nusakambangan on April and May, namely Freddy Budiman, Zulfikar Ali, Suryanto,
Agus Hadi and Pudjo Lestari.
Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo and high-officials of the AGO did not
respond to Tempo's question on the planned executions. However, Prasetyo had
confirmed Friday that he will continue to perform executions despite pressure
from watchdog groups to end death penalty. "How many [will be executed]? I'll
tell you later," Prasetyo said in his office. "I can confirm that there will be
Indonesian convict."
Central Java Police chief Inspector General Condro Kirono said that his office
is ready to perform execution if it gets the instruction to do so, even though
they have yet to receive any notice from the AGO. "Central Java Police is
ready," he said.
(source: tempo.co)
MALAYSIA:
12 Filipinos found guilty in 2013 Malaysia standoff----9 of these Filpinos are
also found guilty of warring against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Lahad Datu, a
charge punishable by the death penalty or life in prison.
12 Filipinos among a group of 14 accused in the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion case
were found guilty by the Malaysian High Court, The Malay Mail Online reported
on Monday, July 25.
Aside from the 12 Filipinos, a Malaysian was also found guilty by the court.
9 of those convicted were also found guilty of warring against the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong, a charge punishable by the death penalty or life in prison as
well as a fine upon conviction. They are Philippine nationals:
--Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, 45
--Basad H. Manuel, 41
--Ismail Yasin, 76
--Virgilio Nemar Patulada alias Mohammad Alam Patulada, 52
--Salib Akhmad Emali, 63
--Al Wazir Osman, 61 --Julham Rashid, 69
--Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram, 53, the son of so-called Sultan Esmail Kiram
Of these 9, the following were also convicted of being members of a terrorist
group: Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram, Salib Akhmad Emali, Al Wazir Osman, Tani
Lahaddahi, and Julham Rashid. The punishment for the crime is life imprisonment
and a fine.
Meanwhile, Malaysian local Abd Hadi Mawan, 52; Philippine national Timhar
Hadil, 39, and his father Hadil Suhaili, 68 (who died on April 24 while
detained) were also found guilty of being members of a terror group.
Filipina Norhaida Ibnahi was found guilty of harboring a person she knew was a
terrorist group member. That offense is punishable by life imprisonment and a
fine, or 20 years of imprisonment with a fine.
Justice Stephen Chung was expected to sentence the 13 on Tuesday after hearing
their "plea in mitigation." He was also expected to sentence some of those who
pleaded guilty in February.
(source: rappler.com)
TURKEY:
'Yes' to death penalty will mean 'No' to EU membership, EU warns Turkey
European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker warned Turkey that talks on
its accession to the EU would be stopped immediately if it reinstated the death
penalty.
The European Union may suspend the negotiations with Turkey on accession to the
EU countries.
According Oxu.Az with reference to Reuters that the due statement came from
European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker.
According to Juncker, this may happen if a country will restore the death
penalty.
It should be noted that after the attempted coup in staged in Turkey on July
17, which was committed by the supporters of the terrorist group FETO lead by
Fethullah Gulen, there are calls for the resumption of the death penalty for
the perpetrators of the coup attempt. Turkey abolished the death penalty in
2004 for compliance with EU requirements.
(source: news.az)
*****************
EU Has No Right to Blackmail Turkey Over Death Penalty Issue - FM----According
to the Turkish foreign minister, the EU has no right to give Turkey any
ultimatums regarding the possible reintroduction of the death penalty.
The European Union has no right to give Turkey any ultimatums regarding the
possible reintroduction of the death penalty, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
said Monday.
"Europe is not the owner of Turkey and we will not accept threats and being
looked down on. If the EU has any questions, we are ready to discuss them,"
Cavusoglu told Haberturk.
Moreover, Turkey will replace a part of its ambassadors amid the investigation
of the recent military coup attempt, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said
Monday.
"There will be layoffs, including at the ambassadorial level," Cavusoglu told
Haberturk.
(source: Sputnik News)
IRAN----executions
Iran regime hangs 3 in prison; man set to be hanged in public on Monday
Iran's fundamentalist regime on Saturday hanged 3 prisoners in a jail in
northern Iran. The regime is set to hang a man in public on Monday.
In a statement on Saturday, the regime's judiciary in Gilan Province, northern
Iran, announced that the 3 prisoners were hanged in the presence of judicial
officials in the Central Prison of Rasht. They were identified only by their
initials and ages: F. B., 40; A. M., 32; and H. D., 31.
An unidentified prisoner will be hanged in public in the town of Songhor,
western Iran, at dawn on Monday, state media reported.
The public execution will take place at the former site of the oil stocks, next
to the town's power terminal, the state-run Soheil-e Songhor website reported
on Sunday.
The mullahs' regime hanged another 9 prisoners on Wednesday in the city of
Karaj, north-west of Tehran.
The regime hanged 18 prisoners last weekend, including 2 cases in public. A
woman was among those hanged on July 17.
The regime hanged 9 prisoners collectively on July 13 in Gohardasht Prison in
Karaj.
More than 270 Members of the European Parliament signed a joint statement on
Iran last month, calling on the European Union to "condition" its relations
with Tehran to an improvement of human rights.
The MEPs who were from all the EU Member States and from all political groups
in the Parliament said they are concerned about the rising number of executions
in Iran after Hassan Rouhani took office as President 3 years ago.
Amnesty International in its April 6 annual Death Penalty report covering the
2015 period wrote: "Iran put at least 977 people to death in 2015, compared to
at least 743 the year before."
"Iran alone accounted for 82% of all executions recorded" in the Middle East
and North Africa, the human rights group said.
There have been more than 2,500 executions during Hassan Rouhani's tenure as
President. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation
in Iran in March announced that the number of executions in Iran in 2015 was
greater than any year in the last 25 years. Rouhani has explicitly endorsed the
executions as examples of "God's commandments" and "laws of the parliament that
belong to the people."
(source: NCR-Iran)
SAUDI ARABIA----executions
Saudi executes 2 murder convicts, raises number of death sentences to 107
Saudi Arabia on Monday executed 2 convicted murderers, the interior ministry
said, raising to 107 the number of death sentences carried out in the kingdom
this year.
Fahd al-Ishan was convicted of stabbing to death another Saudi citizen, the
ministry said in a statement on the official SPA news agency. He was executed
in the northern Jawf region.
Saudi executes Pakistani drug smuggler
Authorities executed another Saudi citizen, Mohammed al-Shahrani, in the
southwestern region of Assir after he was convicted of shooting dead another
Saudi national, the ministry said in another statement.
The kingdom on Sunday carried out the death penalty against 4 citizens
convicted of murder. Most people executed are beheaded with a sword.
Saudi Arabia's growing use of the death penalty has prompted Amnesty
International to call for an "immediate" moratorium on the practice.
The kingdom imposes the death penalty for offences including murder, drug
trafficking, armed robbery, rape and apostasy.
The London-based watchdog's Middle East and North Africa head Philip Luther has
warned that "at this rate, the Kingdom's executioners will soon match or exceed
the number of people they put to death last year."
Amnesty says the kingdom carried out at least 158 death sentences in 2015,
making it the third most prolific executioner after Iran and Pakistan.
Amnesty's figures do not include secretive China.
Murder and drug trafficking cases account for the majority of Saudi executions,
although 47 people were put to death for "terrorism" offences on a single day
in January.
(source: The Express Tribune)
BANGLADESH:
Mir Quasem's review hearing Monday
The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Monday the review petition of
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali against its verdict upholding his death
penalty for his crimes against humanity during the liberation war in 1971,
reports news agency UNB.
The review petition has been kept as item no 63 of the Appellate Division's
cause list for Monday for hearing at the full-member bench, headed by chief
justice Surendra Kumar Sinha.
On 19 June, Quasem Ali filed a review petition with the Supreme Court against
its verdict upholding his death penalty for his crimes against humanity during
the liberation war.
Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, son of Mir Quasem, submitted the review petition seeking
the release of the convict in the war crimes case citing 14 grounds.
On 6 June, the International Crimes Tribunal issued the death warrant for the
Jamaat leader hours after the Supreme Court released the full text of its
verdict upholding his death penalty.
Earlier on 8 March, the Appellate Division upheld the death penalty for Mir
Quasem for his crimes against humanity during the liberation war.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 in a verdict had sentenced Mir Quasem Ali,
Al-Badr chief in the port city of Chittagong in 1971, to death on 2 November,
2014.
On 30 November, 2014, Mir Quasem filed an appeal before the SC challenging the
death penalty.
Among the total 14 charges brought against Mir Quasem for war crimes, the
tribunal convicted him on 10 counts of charges and acquitted him from 4.
The 64-year-old top Jamaat-e-Islami financier was president of the Chittagong
city unit of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of the party, till 6
November, 1971.
He was then made general secretary of the East Pakistan Chhatra Sangha.
(source: prothom-alo.com)
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