Jan. 26
SAUDI ARABIA:
Saudi prosecutor builds case against Al Qaida men on trial----Prosecutor says
men pretending to surrender to authorities in order to gather intelligence
about their security
2 Yemeni Al Qaida militants are standing trial in Riyadh for allegedly planning
a terrorist operation.
They were instructed by the terrorist group to call the Ministry of Interior
and tell them that they planned to surrender themselves to Saudi security
authorities, according to the public prosecutor.
The men worked to gain the trust of 1 ministry officer by feeding him false
information and details of the group.
Once they established his trust they agreed to meet at a security point on the
Saudi-Yemeni border.
However, during their meeting the officers became aware that the men were
misleading them and only wanted to gather details about the security situation
at that border post and were immediately arrested, the Saudi daily Okaz
reported on Thursday.
The 1st defendant, 32, was charged with being a member of Al Qaida in Yemen,
plotting to carry out a suicide attack, communicating with a Daesh terrorist in
Syria, smoking hashish and renegging on a pledge he made 5 years ago when he
was released from prison over another security-linked case.
Charges against the 2nd defendant, 34, included being a member of Al Qaida and
Daesh, plotting with the 1st defendant to carry out a terrorist attack and
giving false and misleading information to Saudi authorities for cash.
He was also charged with funding terror attacks by purchasing arms for Al
Qaida.
The prosecutor requested the death penalty for the 2 defendants or the maximum
penalty stipulated by the law.
The accused told the Specialised Criminal Court they wanted some time to
prepare their defence against the charges.
(source: Gulf News)
IRAN:
A Scientist's Appeal for Retrial
Ahmad Reza Jalali (Djalali), Iranian physician and researcher whose death
sentence was approved by the Supreme Court, is requesting a retrial.
According to a close source, Ahmad Reza Djalali's death sentence was approved
by branch 1 of the Supreme Court in November, but he has requested a retrial.
Being formally invited by Tehran University, Ahmad Reza Djalali travelled to
Iran but was arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on his way
to Karaj on April 24, 2016. He spent three months at the detention centre of
the Ministry of Intelligence. Now Iranian authorities claim that he is
convicted of "espionage and collaboration with enemies".
"Dr. Djalali's case is sent to branch 33 of the Supreme Court for a retrial but
it hasn't been processed or objected so far," Told an informed source about
Ahmad Reza Djalali's case to Iran Human Rights (IHR).
He also said, "Dr. Djalali might still get executed unless the sentence is
suspended. He is in a terrible physical condition and he is getting weaker and
thinner every day."
Ahmad Reza Djalali lived in Sweden since 2009 where he had the permanent
residence. He worked as a researcher in the field of crisis management at
Karolinska University in Stockholm.
On Tuesday, January 24, Alaeddin Borujerdi, the head of Majlis' National
Security Commission who was in Brussels, accused Ahmad Reza Djalali of
participating in the terror of nuclear scientists in a press conference.
Mr. Djalali is currently held at Evin Prison and rejects all the accusations,
and he also denied all the accusations the Ministry of Intelligence made
against him through a documentary.
(source: Iran Human Rights)
**********
Imminent Execution for Ramin Hussein Panahi
UNPO has been informed by the "International Network of Iranian Kurdistan Human
Rights" that Ramin Hussein Panahi, a Kurdish Iranian who had been sentenced to
death on 25 October 2017, is now in danger of imminent execution.
Ramin Hussein Panahi was shot and arrested on 23 June 2017, in Sanandaj ,a city
in Iranian Kurdistan, after meeting with Kurdish citizens to inform them on
human rights issues. After his detention, he was not allowed to get medical
treatment nor to receive visits. After 124 days and 23 requests at different
governmental branches - from the IRGC to Iran's secret service - Ramin's family
remained unaware of his whereabouts and health conditions.
In response to Ramin's family members' quest to obtain information about him,
Iranian authorities detained 3 of his relatives: his brother, Afshin Hussein
Panahi, his brother in law, Ahmad Hussein Panahi, and Zobeir Hussein Panahi.
All 3 were sentenced to imprisonment for respectively 9, 5 and 6 years,
following an unjust trial on the 25 October 2017. On 26 October 2017, Ramin's
mother and sister were informed by the Iranian authorities that he was awaiting
his death penalty and that they would be informed after his execution.
On 25 January 2018, the "International Network of Iranian Kurdistan Human
Rights" received information from his family that Ramin's case was again being
discussed at the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court and that they had plans to
execute him within 20 days, following an unjust trial convicting him of acting
against the national security and for being a member of the Komala Party.
His lawyer, Hossein Ahmadinez, confirmed he will protest against Ramin's
conviction and mentioned that "the membership of his client in a political
opposition party should not be the basis for issuing a death sentence".
Over the past few years, the Iranian authorities have executed thousands of
individuals belonging to national minorities following unjust trials.
(source: unpo.org)
AZERBAIJAN:
MP: PACE recommendations not enough to prevent death penalty use
Recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
are insufficient to prevent the use of the death penalty, Azerbaijani MP Ganira
Pashayeva said at the PACE winter session in Strasbourg on Jan. 26.
"Torture and death penalty are strictly prohibited in the area of the Council
of Europe. Cruelty, degrading treatment and punishment are also prohibited.
Moreover, the ban on torture has already become an obligatory rule of
international law. The 6th article of the convention, which was ratified by all
members of the Council of Europe, abolishes the death penalty. Therefore, the
Council of Europe really needs to strengthen its positions in this field," said
the MP.
It is clear that the trade in goods used for torture and the death penalty is
unacceptable, Pashayeva noted.
"Unfortunately, contrary to the principles and obligations of our organization,
such goods are still produced, delivered to the market and are in circulation
in the member states. It is necessary to more strictly regulate the trade in
such supplies," she said.
"If we do not prohibit such trade, we will not cope with preventing the use of
torture and the death penalty in the world. The PACE recommendations in this
area are not enough. I support the establishment of a global alliance. This is
an important step towards stopping such illegal practices," added the
Azerbaijani MP.
The Azerbaijani delegation headed by chairman of the parliamentary committee on
international and interparliamentary relations, Samad Seyidov, has been
participating in the PACE winter session in Strasbourg since Jan. 21.
The delegation includes chairman of the parliamentary committee on culture
Rafael Huseynov, MPs - Sahiba Gafarova, Sevinj Fataliyeva, Ganira Pashayeva,
Ulviya Agayeva, Sabir Hajiyev, Elshad Hasanov, Vusal Huseynov, Fazil Mustafa,
Asim Mollazade and Rovshan Rzayev.
(source: trend.az)
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