Crime and Justice Death Penalty and the Right to Life
May 2011 Inter Press Service Pagina 1 di 2 May 2011
IPS, the global news agency, brings you independent news and views on capital punishment. In this newsletter you will Download as PDF find in-depth reports by IPS correspondents from around the world and columns by experts, in addition to special sections for news from international NGOs and a review of the global media for a glimpse of what is happening on the ground. Join us in helping strengthen awareness about the abolition of death penalty – and encourage your friends and colleagues to subscribe to this free monthly newsletter.
U.S.: Lethal Injection Treads Murky Ethical Waters By Matthew Cardinale ATLANTA, Georgia, Apr 29, 2011 (IPS) - The death penalty is in limbo in several states since the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency confiscated several states' supplies of sodium thiopental (ST), a key drug used in lethal injections, and as the supply of the drug to the U.S. grows even tighter.
MORE >>
U.S.: Connecticut Likely to Abolish Ultimate Punishment By Elizabeth Whitman NEW YORK, Apr 26, 2011 (IPS) - This month, Connecticut became the latest in a growing line of U.S. states to move toward ending capital punishment. MORE >>
DEATH PENALTY: 'It Cheapens Human Life' Alma Balopi interviews DUMA BOKO, Motswana death penalty abolitionist GABORONE, Apr 13, 2011 (IPS) - In a country where the death penalty enjoys vocal support from both the government and the public, lawyer and politician Duma Boko is not afraid to stand firmly against it. Boko will be in court on Apr. 15 to argue for the life of a client against daunting odds. MORE >>
Botswana Steadfast Over Death Penalty By Ziggy Mogopodi GABORONE, Apr 9, 2011 (IPS) - On Apr. 15, Michael Molefhe and Brandon Sampson will appeal against their death sentences in the Court of Appeals in the Botswanan capital, Gaborone. MORE >>
WORLD PRESS REVIEW: SAUDI ARABIA: TWO SAUDI MURDER CONVICTS BEHEADED- BAHRAIN: FOUR PROTESTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH - SIERRA LEONE PARDONS 96 PRISONERS ON INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: DEATH PENALTY FOR DESERT RAPE - SAUDI ARABIA: THREE DEATH SENTENCES STAYED - VIETNAM: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH - IRAQ: DEATH PENALTY FOR THREE SADDAM-ERA SPIES - MALAYSIA: TWO COUSINS TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING - UAE: KILLER CAUGHT BETWEEN PARDON AND DEATH - MALAYSIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING - MALDIVES: PARLIAMENT ACCEPTS AMENDMENT TO CLEMENCY ACT TO UPHOLD DEATH SENTENCES - OKLAHOMA (USA): GOV. MARY FALLIN SIGNS LEGISLATION GIVING STATE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN LETHAL INJECTION DRUGS - TAJIK PARLIAMENT PASSES PRISON REFORM LAW - PACE URGES BELARUS TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY - CHINA: 26-YEAR-OLD FEMALE EXECUTED IN XIAMEN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING - USA: DENMARK'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS SHE WILL URGE U.S. STATES NOT TO USE DANISH PENTOBARBITAL - CONNECTICUT (USA): DEATH PENALTY REPEAL BILL APPROVED BY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - OHIO (USA): MAN EXECUTED FOR KILLING FELLOW INMATE - EGYPT: THREE MEN TO HANG FOR RAPE - SAUDI ARABIA: THREE PAKISTANIS SENT TO THE GALLOWS - MALAYSIA: FATHER AND SON TO HANG FOR MURDER - MALAYSIA: MAN GETS DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING SYABU - INDIA: FIRM TO STOP SELLING EXECUTION DRUG TO US PRISONS - VIETNAM: 2 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING OFFICIAL - SIERRA LEONE AGAINST UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY - GAMBIA ABOLISHES DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES - UAE: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S SHARIA CRITICISM REJECTED BY JUDGE - MALAYSIA: NO REVIEW OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT - INDIA: PRESIDENT PARDONS TWO DEATH CONVICTS - USA: TWO MORE STATES TURN OVER EXECUTIONS DRUG IN PROBE - SWAZILAND: SERIAL KILLER SENTENCED TO HANG - CHINA: ALLEGED CHINESE CRIMINAL RINGLEADER EXTRADITED FROM PHILIPPINES http://www.ipsnews.net/deathpenaltyabolition/may2011.asp 10/05/2011 Inter Press Service Pagina 2 di 2
News from International NGOs: PRI SIGNS UP TO A NEW CAMPAIGN ON HIV AND INJECTING DRUG USE: A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION - PRI WELCOMES TAJIKISTAN’S EASING OF CONDITIONS FOR LIFERS - PRI USES UN CRIME COMMISSION SESSION TO HIGHLIGHT SMR REVIEW, BANGKOK RULES AND OPCAT - BAHRAIN URGED TO HALT EXECUTION OF PROTESTERS - COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY DEATH PENALTY DATA NOW AVAILABLE - PRESSURED INDIAN FIRM STOPS EXPORTING LETHAL DRUGS - WILL ARAB REVOLUTIONS BRING NEW HOPE FOR ABOLITION?
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http://www.ipsnews.net/deathpenaltyabolition/may2011.asp 10/05/2011 Crime and Justice — Death Penalty and the Right to Life
COLUMN and Tunisia have always argued that their societies are not ready to accept
the abolition of death penalty. It is true IMPROVED CHANCES FOR that the readiness of these societies for ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY IN a total abolition remains questionable, NORTH AFRICA but nothing has been done to change By Amor Boubakri * this situation. Neither the media nor the parliament has opened a public debate SOUSSE, Apr (IPS) Unlike the Middle to enhance awareness of the issue and East, North Africa has recently given its problems among people. Indeed, the signs it is moving away from capital "not ready" argument has been always punishment. The exceptions, however, an excuse for passivity and inertia. are Egypt and Libya, which still have the Moreover, the North African death penalty and voted against the governments have not been tolerant three UN General Assembly resolutions enough of NGOs fighting against death on a capital punishment moratorium penalty, which have had to struggle to adopted in 2007, 2008 and 2010. In get access to the public to plead their Libya, at least 18 persons were executed cause. in 2010. However, with the political situation in A de facto moratorium has been the region now radically different, observed since 1991 in Tunisia and since prospects for the abolition of death 1993 in Algeria and Morocco. Algeria penalty are likely to improve was a co-sponsor of the three UN considerably. Indeed, the peaceful Resolutions. Morocco and Tunisia were Tunisian revolution which put an end to less enthusiastic but not negative about Ben Ali's dictatorship on 14 January them. Indeed, Tunisia chose not to 2011 has become a model that has attend the vote in order to avoid spread throughout the region. Political abstaining and voting "no". The Tunisian reforms, including the enhancement of government said it was simply not ready human rights, have risen to the top of to adopt a more courageous attitude the agenda. This would be sure to help toward the moratorium. Morocco the abolitionist movement in the region abstained. because it will have more liberty to act and to campaign against death penalty. The governments of Algeria, Morocco,
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Furthermore, the promises of the Tunisian revolution are likely to be In Egypt, the end of Mubarak's regime trustworthy. Just days after taking on 11 February 2011 has raised major power in mid-January 2011, the hopes for more respect of human rights Tunisian government that was formed in general and specifically the right to after the failure of Ben Ali's regime life. Indeed, the uprising that has spread made numerous revolutionary through the region since the success of decisions, all intended to consolidate the Tunisian revolution has highlighted human rights. On 19 February 2011 the importance of democracy and Tunisia became a member of the human rights. The genuine commitment International Criminal Court and ratified of the new political and social actors the International Convention protecting who have carried out this uprising will persons against forced disappearance. lead to more courageous decisions In addition, the UN Human Rights regarding capital punishment. Committee and the Committee against Torture will be able to accept individual Still, a total abolition would not be easy claims against the Tunisian government to push through in all North African after the first Optional Protocol to the countries. In Algeria, Morocco and 1966 International Covenant on Civil Tunisia, abolition of death penalty and Political Rights and the Optional seems to be a mere question of time. Protocol to the Convention against The new regime in Egypt will at least Torture have been adopted. restrain from the use of the death penalty and adopt a de facto It is true that the second Optional moratorium like Algeria, Morocco and Protocol to the 1966 Covenant aiming at Tunisia. abolishing the death penalty has not been adopted yet, but there is no doubt While in Libya the situation remains now that human rights are at the top of unclear, observers agree that nothing the political and civil actors' agenda in will continue as before and that the Tunisia. Probably the interim future Libyan regime will certainly government chose not to make this display more respect for human rights decision in order to give the next and so likely follow the regional trend of government, which will be selected in diminished tolerance for the death upcoming elections, the opportunity to penalty. (END/COPYRIGHT IPS) launch a large debate on the issue.
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practice the death penalty.
"In view of the sensitivity involved with PROJECT ARTICLES sale of our Thiopental Sodium to various Jails/Prisons in USA and as alleged to be
used for the purpose of Lethal Injection, U.S.: Lethal Injection Treads we voluntary declare that we as Indian Murky Ethical Waters Pharma Dealer who cherish the Ethos of By Matthew Cardinale Hinduism (A believer even in non-livings as the creation of God) refrain ourselves ATLANTA, Georgia, Apr 29, 2011 (IPS) - in selling this drug where the purpose is The death penalty is in limbo in several purely for Lethal Injection and its states since the U.S. Drug Enforcement misuse," Kayem said in a statement. Agency confiscated several states' supplies of sodium thiopental (ST), a key On Apr. 14, Britain said it would block drug used in lethal injections, and as the exports to the U.S. of three lethal supply of the drug to the U.S. grows injection drugs, including ST, and urged even tighter. the European Union to do the same. Britain had previously blocked exports First, the DEA confiscated Georgia's of ST to the U.S. for use in lethal supply of ST on Mar. 15 after questions injections in November 2010. surfaced about the origin of the drugs. Then, on Apr. 1, Kentucky and Hospira Inc., the only U.S. manufacturer Tennessee voluntarily gave up their of ST, announced it would no longer supplies to the agency. make the drug at its new plant in Italy. Hospira had intended to begin Georgia had purchased its supply of ST producing out of its plant in Italy. from a pharmaceutical company However, the death penalty is operating out of the back of a driving unconstitutional in Italy and the school in London. government had insisted the company take responsibility for the end use of its Meanwhile, the supply of ST has gotten product. even tighter in the U.S. On Apr. 7, the Indian company Kayem announced it Now, some states are switching to a would no longer supply ST to states that new lethal injection drug, pentobarbital
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(PB), which is also used in medical it clear they don't want it sold for these treatments as well as animal purposes. I don't know how many times euthanasia. it changes hands until gets to the Department of Corrections. They Last week, Georgia - which had its essentially lose control of what happens supply of ST confiscated - said it is to the drug." considering use of PB and that state officials have traveled to Ohio and "It presents a very difficult ethical Oklahoma to learn about their recent dilemma. They're ultimately buying experiences using the drug. these drugs from a manufacturer who's very clear [that] the purpose of the drug The state of Oklahoma already began is to heal people, not kill people," she using PB as part of a three drug said. "It just kind of underscores how combination in December 2010. In ethically complicated it can be to carry March, Ohio executed a man, Johnnie out executions." Baston, a convicted murderer, with PB. Ohio officials said it worked just as well "The availability of these drugs in the as ST. U.S. has become so limited, and the European countries said they don't want On Mar. 16, Texas decided to start using these drugs used for executions. States PB. have to figure out how to get these lethal injection drugs," Moye added. Pentobarbital is made by Lundbeck, a Danish company, which does not "It's not clear what's going on in these condone the drug's use by U.S. states in states. Are they getting it from other carrying out the death penalty. states that had a pre-existing supply, or However, Lundbeck has not gone as far from other sources?" as some other companies and is continuing to sell the drug to An Apr. 13 article by the New York distributors. Times reviewed depositions in various lawsuits brought by death row inmates, "I don't really know who the distributors revealing that states conspired to avoid are," said Laura Moye, death penalty inspections of shipments containing the abolition campaign director for Amnesty drugs. International USA. "Lundbeck has made
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In one case, Wendy Kelley, an Arkansas Department of Corrections official, With a vote of 27-17, the state's joint actually got in her car and drove to Judiciary Committee passed a bill other states such as Tennessee and repealing the death penalty. The bill Texas to traffic the drug back to should move to the state Senate in the Arkansas to be used to execute a man. next few weeks, according to state senators, and although they predict the "We would have hoped that Georgia vote will be a close one, they believe it would have had the foresight and is likely to pass. decency to halt executions in light of the national and international concerns From there it would go to the House about the source and viability of lethal and then Governor Dan Malloy, who has injection. Instead, the Georgia said that he would sign the bill. Department of Corrections went around the law to buy questionable drugs and Opponents of capital punishment hailed then used them to extinguish two men," the vote as a step in the right direction said Kathryn Hamoudah, chairperson of towards abolishing a failed public policy. Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Ben Jones, executive director of the Penalty. Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty, said his group was "very "Now, federal intervention has forced happy". Georgia to give up its black market drugs," she said. The bill is not retroactive, so the 10 (END) people currently on death row in Connecticut would not be reprieved if the bill were passed. Only one man has U.S.: Connecticut Likely to been executed in Connecticut since 1973. Abolish Ultimate Punishment
By Elizabeth Whitman Recently, capital punishment has been
the focal point of debate in the United NEW YORK, Apr 26, 2011 (IPS) - This States, particularly regarding the month, Connecticut became the latest controversial case of Troy Davis, as well in a growing line of U.S. states to move as a persistent shortage of lethal toward ending capital punishment. injection drugs that has led to several
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states' attempting to obtain these using education or other social services. questionable means. Others believe that many problems, The death penalty was reinstated in legal, social and otherwise, are deeply 1977 in the United States after a 10- embedded in both the death penalty year moratorium. Since then, 16 states and the appeals process. "The death have abolished the death penalty, with penalty falls on the poor, minorities, Illinois being the most recent in March. those with inadequate representation at trial," Richer Dieter, executive director A heavy price to pay of the Death Penalty Information Center, told IPS. Opponents of capital punishment draw on a wide range of reasons for why the Race and socioeconomic means also policy needs to be abolished, but all play a major role. According to Jones, agree that the system is deeply flawed. "The race of the defendant has a big impact on who gets the death penalty. Connecticut State Senator Eric Coleman, The stats show that if the victim is the Democratic chair of the Judiciary white, prosecutors are more likely to Committee, told IPS that he opposed seek the death penalty." the policy on both moral and practical grounds. "Among people on death row, 95 percent of them cannot afford their own "I fear that… one day we may wrongfully attorney. It's usually the poor who end prosecute someone for a capital crime, up getting sentenced to death," he convict that person, and actually added. "It's a broken system." proceed in executing that person," he said. From a moral standpoint, "I just Coleman agreed that in Connecticut think that to kill a person in the name of specifically, "There's a big disparity and the state or otherwise is the wrong inconsistency in the implementation of thing to do," he added. the death penalty."
He also cited financial justifications for The appeals process has its own repealing the death penalty - money problems. Dieter told IPS that it "looks spent on the lengthy appeals process, at mistakes that happen in the legal for instance, could be better spent on trial," not new evidence of innocence.
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During the process, said Dieter, courts such polls do not accurately represent "are only looking at the technical legal popular opinion. ways in which the trial was conducted, even though there may be very Instead, said Jones, "Ask the question in powerful new information." As a result, a slightly different way and say, 'In cases even if new evidence is uncovered, the of murder do you favour the death appeals process may not necessarily use penalty or life imprisonment without it to exonerate someone. release?' When that question is posed… support for the death penalty drops From a purely financial standpoint, the dramatically." He added, "As people death penalty is much more costly than learn more about the system, they're life imprisonment. According to Dieter, more willing to let go of it." when all costs are taken into account, enforcing a death sentence costs about Dieter confirmed this perspective, three million dollars - three times as adding that when people are given a much as life in prison. choice between supporting the death penalty or life imprisonment without Above all, however, "Mistakes can be parole, they favour the latter. made," said Dieter. "With the death penalty, you cannot undo those One of the driving points of the debate mistakes if you have an execution. Once over ending capital punishment in you've carried out the execution, Connecticut is the chilling 2007 Cheshire nothing can be done to change that." home invasion that resulted in the gruesome murders of a mother and her Public ambivalence two young daughters. One of the perpetrators, Steven Hayes, was A Gallup poll from October 2010 posed convicted and placed on death row, and the question, "Are you in favour of the the other, Joshua Komisarjevsky, has death penalty for a person convicted of not yet been tried. murder?" Sixty-four percent of those surveyed were in favour, with 29 State Senator John Kissel, a ranking percent against and six percent with no Republican member of the Judiciary opinion. Committee, told IPS he supports the death penalty because he believes "it But both Dieter and Jones argue that performs a valuable function in our
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criminal justice system" by inducing reasons," Boko says, "one of them being defendants to cooperate with the sheer irrevocability of the sentence authorities. of death. You can’t revoke it."
"It does bring trials to a conclusion, in Boko, who is also the leader the many respects, quickly," Kissel said. opposition Botswana National Front "Many cases… are resolved because we party, will be appealing the conviction do have a death penalty." and sentencing to death of Brandon Sampson. Sampson was convicted In other situations, "Some cases are so alongside South African citizen Michael horrific and heinous that it's an Molefhe in 2007 for two murders. Their appropriate punishment," he said, citing execution is scheduled for July. the events in Cheshire as one example. "It's just considered by the vast majority Ahead of the court appearance, IPS in the public to be an appropriate spoke to the prominent human rights penalty for these individuals." advocate about the case and the (END) prospects for abolishing the death penalty in Botswana. Excerpts of the interview follow.
DEATH PENALTY: Q: What are Michael Molefhe and 'It Cheapens Human Life' Brandon Sampson asking the court for Alma Balopi interviews DUMA BOKO, in the hearing beginning Friday? Motswana death penalty abolitionist A: They are asking the court to quash GABORONE, Apr 13, 2011 (IPS) - In a and set aside their convictions. As you country where the death penalty enjoys know each one of them has been vocal support from both the convicted on two counts of murder and government and the public, lawyer and sentenced on each to death. politician Duma Boko is not afraid to stand firmly against it. Boko will be in I represent Brandon Sampson. He is court on Apr. 15 to argue for the life of a saying his conviction was unfounded client against daunting odds. and the court failed and committed grave errors in analysis and examination "I am against death penalty for many of the evidence that was presented to it.
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On that basis, he is asking the court of cases? appeal to quash and set aside that conviction and sentence as A: A senior attorney of my standing can unsustainable and erroneous both in only take on these cases as the case is law and in fact. not paid at all - can only do it because he has got a passion to defend human Q: Doesn’t executing those convicted rights. of murder help the families of the deceased feel better about their loss? Not all lawyers have that kind of passion and therefore not all of them would A: I don’t think it makes them feel apply themselves with as much better. No one has done that study here commitment and zeal as required to establish that it does. fighting a case of this nature. We need to improve on that and secondly to What I think it does is that it cheapens make sure that they are given much human life. facilities.
The society that celebrates death by the The state when it prosecutes has all the state is an immature society. If we think facilities. The constitution requires that our people are that immature, we need in the marshalling of their defence, the either to educate them or to establish if accused persons be afforded the same indeed they are. facilities that the state has.
Because you may find that they are far There is no equality of arms, if you will, from being that immature. It is the state when the attorney representing the that is immature in this regard and the accused person does not have the same legal system that forces judges and the resources as the state. That is basically state to be that immature. violating the constitution and that violation must itself vitiate the Q: In light of the 2005 acquittal of imposition of death penalty on an Maauwe and Motsetlwa, whoseoriginal individual. So it is a real challenge. trial was set aside and the state delayed too long to re-try them, what Q: It appears some of the most are some system-wide problems with determined voices raised against state-appointed lawyers in capital capital punishment in Botswana have
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become muted recently - what are the law says so or not. prospects for abolition in the future? It is a position for which I don’t A: I don’t know what the prospects are. apologise for because it is a principled Certainly it will take a committed position. government at this stage or a very (END) committed judiciary. Botswana Steadfast Over I think the latter is what we hope to Death Penalty have. We will not have a committed By Ziggy Mogopodi reaction to this issue from this government. It is a very populist GABORONE, Apr 9, 2011 (IPS) - On Apr. government; it is a government that 15, Michael Molefhe and Brandon believes in sentences of this nature. It is Sampson will appeal against their death government with a person at the helm sentences in the Court of Appeals in the who I doubt reflects on the jurisdiction Botswanan capital, Gaborone. and philosophical implications of some of these penalties and their efficacy in In 2007, the men were convicted of terms of either deterring or achieving murdering two Zimbabweans, Sam social objectives. Humbarube and Robert Ncube. The
prosecution successfully argued that So we will look to the judiciary. Even Molefhe, a South African, and Sampson then, the calibre that operates now it is believed Ncube had killed Molefhe's competent to pronounce against death aunt in South Africa in the 1990s. The penalty. pair located Ncube in Mogoditshane
village, just outside Gaborone, and killed Q: You said earlier that your party him and a visiting friend, Humbarube. fights for human rights in the country.
As a BNF government President would Molefhe and Sampson, who are you impose a moratorium or seek to scheduled to be executed in July, were repeal the death penalty in Botswana? also sentenced to five years
imprisonment for unlawful possession A: Of course, when I am at the helm of of a firearm and ammunition. The men that government, I will not sign are appealing their sentence on the anybody’s death warrant whether the
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grounds that their judgment was to defence lawyers mean only young impaired by drugs and alcohol when the and inexperienced lawyers take on the killings were committed, and the difficult job of defending capital cases. punishment is too severe. Cautionary tale Ten years ago, Botswana attracted international attention when another In 2005, Gwara Motswetla and South African, Mariette Bosch, was Tlhabologo Maauwe, members of the sentenced to death for the murder of marginalised indigenous Basarwa (or her friend, Maria Wolmarans. Bosch San) ethnic group, narrowly escaped killed Wolmarans in 1996 in Gaborone, execution. They had been convicted of and married Wolmarans's husband a murdering a man whose ox they were few months later: convicted of accused of having stolen, and had seen premeditated murder, she was hung on their 1997 appeal rejected, their death Mar. 31, 2001, the fortieth person (and sentences endorsed by then-President the fifth woman) to be executed since Festus Mogae, and a January 1999 Botswana's independence in 1966. execution date set.
The Bosch hanging was widely Ditshwanelo was able to delay the condemned, with several European execution, and supported a fresh legal countries even threatening sanctions challenge in 1999. This led a judge to set against Botswana. Within the country, aside their original murder conviction the Centre for Human Rights - more after a new legal team presented commonly known as Ditshwanelo - was evidence of incompetence and at the forefront of criticising the malpractice by their original defence sentencing and execution just two lawyers. months after her appeal was rejected. The court heard that the two men had Since Bosch's hanging in 2001, written a letter to the court before a Botswana has executed at least five failed appeal in 1997, asking that their more people, according to death lawyers be replaced, but the letter was penalty abolitionist group Hands off never acted upon - or even presented to Cain. The group is critical of legal the Court of Appeal. representation for the poor, asserting that the low rates paid by government New lawyers Kgafela Kgafela and Brian
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Splig also argued that the original finding that he had premeditated the defence team had no notes from murder of a child who was blameless in consultations with their clients, nor an argument between his parents. Fly from the trial itself, and failed to cross- lost his appeal and the president, under examine witnesses on evidence in court. strong public pressure to show that such They had been denied private meetings criminal acts will not be tolerated, did with their lawyers, and may not have not grant clemency. fully understood court proceedings which were not translated. Steadfast popular support
A mistrial was declared, and when a re- Many Batswana believe the death trial was finally opened in 2005, the sentence is a deterrent that keeps the judge ruled the state was responsible incidence of murder in the country low. for an unreasonable delay of justice, The police report an average of seven depriving the accused of their right to murders per week, most of which fair trial in a reasonable time. Nine years involve alcohol or domestic violence - or after their arrest, Maauwe and both. Botswana's murder rate is Motswetla were acquitted and estimated to be 21.5 per 100,000 discharged. (figures from UNData, see sidebar), much lower than neighbouring South But the voice of Ditshwanelo has not Africa (68), but higher than another, been heard on recent cases. In 2008, more comparable neighbour, Namibia Mokwadi Fly was sentenced to death (12.8). and subsequently hanged in March 2010. He had been convicted of Opposing the death sentence in murdering his five-year-old son with an Botswana is politically risky. Political axe in Francistown, after arguing with parties have avoided taking a definite the child's mother. stance, but lawyer Duma Boko, who in 2010 became the leader of the main The case again revealed strong popular opposition party, the Botswana National support for the death penalty in Front, is a notable exception. He Botswana. Conversations everywhere defended Brandon Sampson in his 2008 supported the ruling handed down by a trial and has publicly spoken out against three-judge panel - rejecting his defence capital punishment for many years. that he had hit the child by mistake, and
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The upcoming court appearance may convicted of shooting dead three men provide an opportunity for Boko and after a dispute with the father of one of other opponents of the death penalty in the them, the ministry said in a separate Botswana to again make the case statement. (Agence France Presse) against capital punishment. (END) BAHRAIN: FOUR PROTESTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH April 28, 2011: A Bahraini military court WORLD PRESS REVIEW sentenced four men to death for killing two police officers during the pro- February 2011 democracy protests that were crushed
by the authorities last month. This review provides a glimpse of The court sentenced Ali Abdullah developments related to death penalty Hassan al-Sankis, Qassim Hassan Matar, as reported by media around the Saeed Abduljalil Saeed and Adbulaziz world, in a chronological order from Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain to death. the end of April to the beginning of the Three other defendants tried with them, month. Issa Abdullah Kadhim Ali, Sadeq Ali
Mahdi and Hussein Jaafar Abdulkarim,
were sentenced to life in prison by the SAUDI ARABIA: TWO SAUDI MURDER same court. All seven accused are CONVICTS BEHEADED reported to have denied the charges. April 28, 2011: Two Saudi men were (Source: AI, 28/04/2011) beheaded after being convicted over
two separate cases of murder, the
interior ministry said. SIERRA LEONE PARDONS 96 PRISONERS Ali bin Nasser al-Harthi was found guilty ON INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY of shooting dead Abdullah bin Saed al- April 27, 2011: Sierra Leone feted its Harthi in a revenge murder, the ministry 50th anniversary of independence from said in a statement carried by SPA state Britain with a colourful parade and news agency. government pardon of 96 prisoners, five He was executed in the southwestern of whom were on death row. province of Asir. In a nationwide broadcast President Khaled bin Mohammed al-Dosari was Ernest Koroma hailed the country's executed in Riyadh after being progress since the end of a devastating
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decade-long civil war in 2002, one of the the death penalty of a man who offered continent's bloodiest in which tens of a woman a ride in his truck near the thousands were killed and mutilated. Omani border on January 5, 2010, "We fought a war but we have before raping her and abandoning her in sustained the peace that is the envy of the desert. the world. We have had spells of The decision was based on forensic tests unelected leadership but we are today and the man's confessions. the shining example of a country that is The ruling did not identify the offender consolidating its democracy," he said. or the victim. The speech was followed by a parade by The Fujairah Criminal Court of First the country's armed forces and some Instance found him guilty of kidnap and 4,000 school children at the national rape, and sentenced him on May 9, stadium in the capital Freetown. 2010. The Appeals Court upheld the Presidents from Mali, Guinea, Equatorial verdict. (Source: The National, Guinea, Liberia and Senegal were 28/04/2011) present as well as high-ranking delegations from the European Union, South Africa, Israel, Britain and China, SAUDI ARABIA: THREE DEATH foreign ministry officials said. SENTENCES STAYED After Sierra Leone was recently named April 22, 2011: The government of Saudi among countries that have officially Arabia has stayed death sentence of expressed opposition to a proposed three persons belonging to Peshawar universal moratorium on the death (Pakistan). penalty, Freetown pardoned five death As per details, three persons Abdul row prisoners, including a woman. Rehman, Basheer Hussain Afridi and The state pardon now leaves eight Muhammad Yusuf belonging to males and one woman on death row, a Peshawar killed a Pakistani national prison officer told AFP. (Source: AFP, Yaqoob Laghari on 21 April, 2010. 27/04/2011) The provincial Assembly in recent session had demanded of Saudi government not to award death to the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: DEATH three Pakistanis. PENALTY FOR DESERT RAPE The Saudi government has stayed the April 27, 2011: In the United Arab death sentence till the time of Emirates, the Supreme Court confirmed acquisition of reconciliation documents.
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(Source: Onlinenews.com.pk, Abdul Hamid Mahmoud, were 22/04/2011) sentenced to life imprisonment at the conclusion of the trial, which began in October 2009. VIETNAM: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO Sabawi Ibrahim Hassan, the executed DEATH dictator's half-brother, and Saddam's April 21, 2011: A court in Ho Chi Minh deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz were City, Vietnam, sentenced Nigerian man acquitted in the trial. Nnaji David Ete, 33, to death for The convictions came over the murder trafficking 11 kilos of heroin into the of Sheikh Taleb al-Suhail al-Tamimi, country and then on to China over head of the Banu Tamim tribe, who fled several years. His Vietnamese wife was Iraq for the Lebanese capital with his jailed for life on the same charge, while family after a Baath Party coup in 1968. three other Nigerian men involved in He later attempted his own coup the cross-border drugs ring were against Saddam, who rose to power in sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. 1979, but was gunned down outside his (Source: Agence France Presse, Beirut home on April 14, 1994. 23/04/2011) Lebanon severed its ties with Iraq in the aftermath of the killing, but arrested five Iraqi diplomats and one Lebanese IRAQ: DEATH PENALTY FOR THREE accomplice over the assassination. SADDAM-ERA SPIES All but one were released without April 21, 2011: Iraq's High Criminal charge, with one diplomat having died Court sentenced to death three Saddam in prison in Lebanon. Hussein-era spies convicted of The other four diplomats later returned assassinating the father of a sitting Iraqi to Iraq only to flee after the 2003 US-led lawmaker in Beirut in April 1994. invasion that ousted Saddam. "The court sentences to death Hadi Tamimi's daughter, Safia al-Suhail, has Hassuni, Abdul Hassan al-Majid and been an Iraqi lawmaker since 2005. She Farukh Hijazi, who were agents of the was elected to the Council of intelligence services," tribunal Representatives in March 2010 polls as spokesman Mohammed Abdul Saheb part of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's told AFP. slate, but is now an independent Two other men, military intelligence lawmaker. (Source: Afp, 21/04/2011) chief Saber Duri and Saddam's secretary
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one relative decided to forgive him and MALAYSIA: TWO COUSINS TO HANG another insisted on his execution. FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING The unnamed defendant stabbed his April 20, 2011: Two cousins have been wife seven times in 2010 following a sentenced to death by the High Court in heated argument at their house in Malaysia for trafficking in 938.30gm of Musaffah just outside Abu Dhabi city. cannabis two years ago. He had told court that the argument Kharul Nizan Osman, 29, and Mohd Azizi was triggered by her suspicious Hashim, 28, from Kepala Batas were behavior and that she tried first to kill found guilty of trafficking the drug by him by pulling a knife. the roadside in Kg Sungai Buloh, Sungai As his wife’s first relative, his own son, is Petani on Jan 27, 2009. still a baby, not exceeding three months Judicial Commissioner Datuk Zakiah at the time of the murder, the court Kassim held that the defence had failed named his grandfather, the defendant’s to raise a reasonable doubt on the father, as the baby’s client. prosecution’s case. “The grandfather told court he She added that Mohd Azizi, a former pardoned his son but the victim’s Seberang Prai Municipal Council worker, daughter from a previous husband had admitted in his defence that the car refused to pardon him and insisted on in which he and Kharul Nizan were in his execution,” the semi official Alittihad during their arrest belonged to him and newspaper reported. (Source: that he was in sole possession of the car www.emirates247.com, 20/04/2011) keys. Deputy Public Prosecutor Norshuhada Mohd Yatim prosecuted while the two MALAYSIA: MAN SENTENCED TO accused were represented by A. Saha DEATH FOR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING Deva. (Source: The Star, 20/04/2011) April 19, 2011: Malaysian High Court Justice Siti Mariah Ahmad sentenced Mohd Fais Diram, 28, from Kampung UAE: KILLER CAUGHT BETWEEN Rantau Panjang, to death for trafficking PARDON AND DEATH 929gm of marijuana under the Shapadu April 20, 2011: Press reports said an Expressway flyover in Klang on Arab man who murdered his wife in Abu December 24, 2007. Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was facing Fais allegedly handed over the drugs, both pardon and death sentence after kept in one of the pillars of the flyover,
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to an undercover policeman. (Source: OKLAHOMA (USA): GOV. MARY FALLIN The Star, 19/04/2011) SIGNS LEGISLATION GIVING STATE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN LETHAL INJECTION DRUGS MALDIVES: PARLIAMENT ACCEPTS April 18, 2011: Gov. Mary Fallin has AMENDMENT TO CLEMENCY ACT TO signed into law legislation that will give UPHOLD DEATH SENTENCES prison officials more flexibility when April 18, 2011: The parliament accepted choosing which lethal drugs to use to an amendment proposed to the administer the death penalty in Clemency Act, requiring in Maldives a Oklahoma. death penalty issued by the Supreme The bill received final passage in the Court to be executed. Senate last week and was signed today After debating on accepting the bill for by Fallin. three days, 42 out of the 62 members The measure clarifies that the death present in the sitting voted in favour of penalty is to be carried out by accepting the bill while only 14 administering a lethal quantity of a members voted against the proposal. "drug or drugs" instead of specifying The bill was sent to the parliamentary which drugs are to be used. Social Committee for further analysis. Oklahoma has used the anesthetic The amendment proposed by Fares- sodium thiopental as the first in a three- Maathoda MP, Ibrahim Muththalib, to drug formula since it adopted lethal Article 21 of the Clemency Act stipulates injection as its method of execution in that despite the Act stating otherwise, a 1990. But after a nationwide shortage of death penalty issued by the Supreme the drug last year, Oklahoma Court – or if the Supreme Court upholds substituted pentobarbital, a barbiturate a death penalty issued by a lower court similar to one used to euthanize or the Higher Court – should be animals. (Source: The Associated Press, executed. 18/04/2011) If the amendment is passed the president will no longer be able to grant clemency to those sentenced to death. TAJIK PARLIAMENT PASSES PRISON (Sources: HNS, Minivan News, REFORM LAW 19/04/2011) April 14, 2011: Tajikstan's lower chamber of parliament voted to improve prison conditions for convicts
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serving life sentences, RFE/RL's Tajik 2004 on implementing the death Service reported. penalty. Since then, the maximum Tajik Justice Minister Bakhtiyor penalty given to criminals has been life Khudoyorov said prisoners jailed for life imprisonment. (Source: Radio Free will now be entitled to a minimum of Europe/Radio Liberty, 14/04/2011) two meetings per year with relatives and given a third meeting in the case of "good behavior." He added that the PACE URGES BELARUS TO ABOLISH conditions for prisoners serving life DEATH PENALTY sentences should be better than they April 14, 2011: the Parliamentary are for other prisoners. Assembly of the Council of Europe Under the new legislation, those serving (PACE) called on Belarus, Japan and the life sentences will be allowed the United States to abolish the death unrestricted purchase of goods from the penalty. prison store. "The European experience has shown Prisoners serving life sentences whose conclusively that the death penalty is conduct is "good" will be kept no more not needed to check violent crime, and than two in a cell. that political leaders who led the way Local and international NGOs and towards abolition did not suffer any human rights defenders have criticized backlash from public opinion," the the conditions in Tajik prisons. They say Assembly says in a resolution adopted almost all of the country's prisons were at its spring session in Strasbourg. built 50-60 years ago and need to be The Assembly urges the United States of modernized. America and Japan, as observer states, They also claim some prisoners are and Belarus, which aspires to subjected to torture and harassment in membership of the Council of Europe, jail. to join the growing consensus among Muhammadali Vatanov, who heads a democratic countries that protect committee in the lower house of human rights and human dignity by parliament, said that after the revision abolishing the death penalty. of the criminal code with the new The Assembly "strongly condemns legislation, the Tajik human rights continued executions since 2008, which ombudsman now has the right to visit have caused much damage to the prisons and check on conditions. credibility of Belarus’ bid to move closer Tajikistan announced a moratorium in to the family of democratic European
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states which protect human rights and Lene Espersen says she cannot take human dignity. direct action against the company since "Competent authorities should declare the drug, pentobarbital, is not exported a moratorium on executions without from Denmark but produced by a plant further delay and take the necessary in the U.S. state of Kansas that is owned steps to abolish the death penalty in by Denmark's Lundbeck A/S. law, the resolution says. (Source: Since late last year, Pentobarbital has BelaPAN, 15/04/2011) been used in the U.S. for lethal injections. Denmark, as is the case with the rest of Europe, is against the death CHINA: 26-YEAR-OLD FEMALE penalty. EXECUTED IN XIAMEN FOR DRUG Espersen has been asked by a left-wing TRAFFICKING opposition group if Denmark could find April 13, 2011: Mao Ran, 26, was a way of stopping some U.S.states from executed in Xiamen, China, for ordering using the drug in its executions. others to conduct large-scale drug "I have no possibility to take direct trafficking at Xiamen Gaoqi action at American states' use of the International Airport. product for executions, but I will also Mao asked two women, Huang and Wu, contact these states through the Danish to bring drug raw materials to China via Embassy in Washington with a call to the airport. On July 26th, 2009, Wu was cease using pentobarbital," Espersen seized carrying 2358.3 gs of heroin. said in a letter posted on Parliament's The following day, Huang was seized Web site April 12. carrying 993.6 gs of heroin. (Source: In Denmark, lawmakers can put written Whatsonxiamen.com, 14/04/2011) questions to government members who must reply in writing. "I find it deeply regrettable that a legal medical product USA: DENMARK'S FOREIGN MINISTER is used for executions," she added in her SAYS SHE WILL URGE U.S. STATES NOT reply to the small, left-wing opposition TO USE DANISH PENTOBARBITAL Red-Green Alliance. April 12, 2011: Denmark's foreign Espersen could not be reached for minister says she will urge U.S. states comment Thursday. Pentobarbital has such as Texas and Ohio to stop using a been used to execute prisoners in Ohio, drug in lethal injections that is produced Oklahoma and Texas. Fellow U.S. states by a Danish company. Mississippi and Arizona are also
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considering switching to the drug for successor, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, is an lethal injections. opponent of the death penalty and has Lundbeck has written letters to U.S. said he will sign a repeal bill should one prison authorities asking them not to reach his desk. use pentobarbital for lethal injections, Supporters of the repeal listed a but so far to no avail. number of reasons why Connecticut The pharmaceutical company, whose should join Illinois, New Jersey and New best-sellers include drugs for the Mexico in abolishing the death penalty. treatment of psychiatric and They cited the enormous amount of neurological disorders, is under time it takes to execute a prisoner in pressure from human rights groups to this state, the painful toll that endless take stronger action, such as rewriting appeals take on the families of murder distribution contracts with clauses victims, instances of racial bias in prohibiting sales of pentobarbital to implementing the death penalty and the U.S.prisons. Lundbeck has rejected that fact that a mistake can lead to the idea, saying it would be impossible for execution of an innocent person. distributors to track how every vial is But Sen. Edward Meyer, D-Guilford, said used. (Source: Associated Press, lawmakers ultimately should view the 12/04/2011) issue as a matter of conscience. He invoked former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, who announced CONNECTICUT (USA): DEATH PENALTY he would "no longer tinker with the REPEAL BILL APPROVED BY JUDICIARY machinery of death." "This, after all is COMMITTEE said and done, is ... a matter of April 12, 2011: The legislature's Judiciary conscience of each individual legislator," Committee approved 26-17 a bill that said Meyer, who voted to support the would abolish in Connecticut the death repeal. Rep. Al Adinolfi, R-Cheshire, penalty, replacing it with a sentence of disagreed. He said lawmakers shouldn't life in prison without the possibility of rely on their own conscience, but rather release. the will of their constituents. This marks the second time in three The proposal now heads to the state years that lawmakers have considered House of Representatives, where it is repealing the death penalty. In 2009, also expected to pass. The vote in the both chambers passed a similar bill but state Senate is expected to be close. it was vetoed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. Her Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated
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the death penalty in 1976, only one a drug dealer. person has been executed in Ohio and Oklahoma are the first US Connecticut: Michael Ross, who states to use large doses of voluntarily suspended all appeals in his pentobarbital to put death row inmates case. (Source: Connecticut Mirror, The to death. Hartford Courant, 12/04/2011) Carter's death marked the 12th execution in the United States so far this year. (Source: Afp, 12/04/2011) OHIO (USA): MAN EXECUTED FOR KILLING FELLOW INMATE April 12, 2011: Ohio executed a man for EGYPT: THREE MEN TO HANG FOR beating a fellow inmate to death over RAPE changing a television channel, prison April 11, 2011: An Egyptian military officials said. court in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya Clarence Carter, 49, was the second sentenced Mohammed Gamal Attiya, inmate to be killed in Ohio using the Mohammed Misbah Abdel Haq and surgical sedative pentobarbital alone Ibrahim Mohammed al-Shennawi to rather than the usual concoction of hang, the state-owned press said. lethal drugs due to a shortage in the The three kidnapped a women, 24, at United States. The sedative is usually gun point from a car on a motorway to used to euthanize animals. the northern city of Damietta and raped The time of death was announced as her on March 20, 2011. 10:25 am (1425 GMT) at the Southern The men were caught by the army, Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. which has taken charge of policing since "His was the second execution in Ohio a popular uprising toppled president using five grams of pentobarbital as a Hosni Mubarak in February. (Source: stand-alone drug," noted Ohio prisons Agence France Presse, 11/04/2011) spokesman Carlo LoParo. Carter had been sentenced to death in 1989 after beating Johnny Allen Jr., 33, SAUDI ARABIA: THREE PAKISTANIS who died two weeks after the SENT TO THE GALLOWS December 1988 confrontation over one April 10, 2011: Three Pakistani citizens, of them changing the TV channel. imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past At the time of the beating, Carter was 13 years on murder and adultery awaiting sentencing over the murder of charges, have been sentenced to death
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by a Sharia court, according to their and 10 years imprisonment, family members. respectively. Relatives of one of the accused have Another court later revised the sentence asked the Government of Pakistan to and the imprisonment term was take up the issue with the Saudi increased to 18, 13 and 12 years, while a government, saying they have been third court further increased these wrongly implicated in the cases and counts to 20, 14 and 11 years. have spent 13 years behind bars, However, on March 29, another court besides paying blood money (diyat) awarded death sentence to the worth Rs4 million in one case in 2004. Pakistanis. According to the family The three Pakistanis were identified as members, it takes at least three months Rahmul Wahab, a resident of between the death sentence and the Charsadda, Bashir Hassan Afridi of Kohat execution and at present, they have and Mohammad Abdur Rehman, a been asked to appeal against the resident of Karachi. verdict. Fazl Karim, a cousin of Wahab, told The Wahab’s wife, Shaheen, urged the Saudi Express Tribune that the three men king and the Pakistani authorities to were arrested on suspicion of release her husband. “My daughters murdering another Pakistani, identified need their father, and my husband has as Mohammad Yaqoob and a resident of already spent 13 years in prison,” she Dera Ghazi Khan, in 1999 in Makkah. said. (Source: Tribune.com.pk, While they were in prison, the bodies of 10/04/2011) two babies were recovered from the same area where Yaqoob’s body was found and so the authorities charged MALAYSIA: FATHER AND SON TO HANG them for impregnating two Indonesian FOR MURDER girls and later for forceful abortions that April 10, 2011: The High Court in Kedah killed the two babies, he said. State, Malaysia, sentenced father and His nephew Mansoor Wahab said that son to death by hanging for murdering a on July 17, 2004, a nine-member jirga man in Kulim eight years ago. agreed that the families of the accused Judge Datuk Zamani A. Rahim passed would jointly pay the blood money the sentence after finding that the (diyat) of Rs4 million to Yaqoob’s family prosecution had established a case The money was accordingly paid and a beyond reasonable doubt against them. court sentenced the three men to 15, 12 Hashim Ariffin, 56, and Hishamuddin
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Hashim, 31, were jointly charged with proved its case beyond reasonable murdering Mohd Rafi Che Ani on Feb 7 doubt. 2003 in front of a Kulim District Council “As required under Section 182A (1) of stall in Jalan Kulim-Kelang. the Criminal Procedure Code, I have Zamani said after examining testimony considered all the evidence adduced produced by the defence and and I am satisfied that the prosecution prosecution, the court found that two had proved its case beyond reasonable defence witnesses had contradicted doubt. each other. Therefore the accused is convicted of The prosecution was led by Deputy the charge,” Abdul Rahman said. Public Prosecutor Norsyuhada Mohd “I order the accused to be brought to a Yatim while car reposssessors Hashim lawful place where he shall be hanged and Hishamuddin were represented by by the neck until his death,” he said, counsel RSN Rayer. (Source: Bernama, adding that all the exhibits be returned 10/04/2011) to the prosecution to be kept, pending disposal of Edmund’s appeal. (Sources: Borneo Post, 08/05/2011) MALAYSIA: MAN GETS DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING SYABU INDIA: FIRM TO STOP SELLING April 7, 2011: A man was sentenced to EXECUTION DRUG TO US PRISONS death by the High Court in Sabah State, April 7, 2011: An Indian drug company Malaysia, for trafficking in 141.61 that supplied a key execution drug to grammes of Syabu last year. U.S. prisons has decided to halt future Justice Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli sales following objections from death- meted out the sentence after finding penalty opponents. Edmund John, 38, guilty of trafficking in Kayem Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd. supplied the drug at a house at Lorong Pokok Nebraska prison officials with a large Resam in Taman BDC on March 22, supply of thiopental sodium, an 2010. anesthetic typically used to render a He was convicted under Section 39B (1) condemned inmate unconscious before (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 other lethal drugs, including a paralytic which carries the mandatory death agent, are administered. sentence upon conviction. Lethal injection is the sole or primary In his reserved judgment, Abdul execution method in the 34 states that Rahman held that the prosecution had carry out the death penalty.
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The company also supplied the drug to Communist Party official. South Dakota, Navneet Verma, the The state-run Nhan Dan newspaper managing director of the Mumbai-based reported that Nguyen Trong Nhan, 31, company, told The Wall Street Journal. and Luong Hoai Sang, 21, were "We appreciate the global concerns convicted of fatally stabbing Dang Thu about the death penalty and particularly Hong, a deputy head of the party. the concerns of the human-rights The pair also seriously wounded local community," Mr. Verma said. "I decided official Bui Ngo Thi My and her daughter voluntarily not to sell a single vial of in the September attack. thiopental for use in lethal injections." The men had gone to My's house to beg The decision could make it even more her to not to take disciplinary action difficult for U.S. prisons to find the drug, against one of their wives, who worked which has been in short supply for for her. about a year, delaying executions and Hong was visiting the family when she forcing some states to alter their was caught up in the attack. (Source: executions procedures. AP, 07/04/2011) Prison officials in South Dakota and Nebraska were not immediately available for comment. SIERRA LEONE AGAINST UNIVERSAL Hospira Inc., the only U.S. manufacturer MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY of thiopental, decided earlier this year April 5, 2011: Amnesty International to stop making the drug due to concerns was "gravely concerned that Sierra from death-penalty opponents. Leone's name was included in a letter Some states, including Texas, have arguing against the abolition of the switched from using thiopental to death penalty," said Brima Sheriff, pentobarbital, a sedative often used to director of Amnesty's Sierra Leone euthanize animals. (Source: wsj.com, chapter, referring to a letter sent to the 07/04/2011) UN General Assembly. Attorney-General and Justice Minister Franklyn Kargbo said that "the abolition VIETNAM: 2 SENTENCED TO DEATH of the death penalty is on the FOR KILLING OFFICIAL government's legislative agenda. It will April 6, 2011: A court in Ho Chi Minh be given serious and positive City sentenced two men to death for consideration in due course." murdering a senior Vietnamese Sierra Leone's 1991 constitution allows
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the use of the death penalty for impose a sentence of death for any aggravated robbery, murder, treason offence unless the sentence is and mutiny. prescribed by law and the offence Prison records showed no executions involves violence, or the administration have been carried out since 1998 when of any toxic substance, resulting in the 24 military officers were killed by firing death of another person.” squad for a 1997 coup attempt. (Source: Voicing his support for the amendment, Agence France Presse, 05/04/2011) majority leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta described it as being responsive to the dictates of The Gambia constitution, GAMBIA ABOLISHES DEATH PENALTY commending the minister for the hard FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES work that had gone into the April 4, 2011: the Gambian lawmakers amendment. approved new amendments, presented Also minority leader Momodou LK before the National Assembly members Sanneh supported the amendments on by Attorney General and minister of the point that it was brought to toe the Justice, Edward Gomez, abolishing the line of the constitution, but asked for a death penalty for drug-related offences little leniency in the sentences and replacing it with life imprisonment. prescribed. (Source: Today.gm, The legislators had in October 2010 07/04/2011) approved a law that imposes the death penalty on people convicted of being in possession of cocaine or heroine UAE: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S amounting to or more than 250 grams. SHARIA CRITICISM REJECTED BY JUDGE Presenting three bills for amendment - April 4, 2011: A judge of the Federal the Drugs Control (Amendment) Act Supreme Court rejected an Amnesty 2011, Trafficking in Person International report condemning capital (Amendment) Act 2011 and Criminal punishment in the region, saying that Code (Amendment) Act 2011 - Justice law in the United Arab Emirates and minister Edward Gomez acknowledged Sharia law are explicit on how and why that the amendment of the Drug the death penalty is used. Control Act in 2010 overlooked Section Twenty-eight people were sentenced to 18 (2) of The Gambia Constitution of death in the Emirates in 2010, including 1997 which stipulates that no court in some individuals under the age of 18, the country “shall be competent to the report said. But the judge said that
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under Article 1 of the penal code, and sentences, while several others are certain offences including murder, sex seeking pardons from the Pardon Board outside of wedlock, drugs, theft and of respective states. alcohol must be tried under Sharia. Among them, 676 are males while 20 (Source: The National, 04/04/2011) are females, while some 90 percent are between 21 and 50 years old. (Sources: New Straits Times, 05/04/2011; MALAYSIA: NO REVIEW OF CAPITAL freemalaysiatoday.com, 03/04/2011) PUNISHMENT April 4, 2011: There are no plans to review the law on capital punishment, INDIA: PRESIDENT PARDONS TWO Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri DEATH CONVICTS Hishammuddin Hussein said. April 3, 2011: Indian President Pratibha According to Hussein, 441 persons were Patil pardoned two murder convicts hanged since 1960. As of on Feb 22 this from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh year, another 696 are waiting for and commuted their death sentence to execution of their death sentences in life imprisonment. Malaysian prisons. "Capital punishment S B Pingale was awarded death is only for crimes that directly put our sentence in August 1997 by the Pune country's security and sovereignty at Sessions Court for killing two persons risk," he said. related to his estranged wife and being Of the 441 persons hanged, 228 were involved in two attempts to murder. Jai involved in drug trafficking and 78 were Kumar, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, convicted for murder. was awarded death sentence by a trial Another 130 were for illegal processions court for killing his brother's wife and of arms, while four more were daughter. (Source: PTI, 03/04/2011) convicted for waging war against the King. The remaining one was involved in kidnapping. USA: TWO MORE STATES TURN OVER Among those awaiting the gallows, 479 EXECUTIONS DRUG IN PROBE convicts were involved in drug April 1, 2011: Tennessee and Kentucky trafficking, 204 in murders and 13 in turned over their supplies of Sodium illegal processions of arms. thiopental to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Some of them are in the process of Administration, which is probing how appealing to overturn their convictions the drug was imported, officials said
Page 28 Crime and Justice — Death Penalty and the Right to Life
today. citing public records. But Bentivoglio U.S. authorities seized Georgia's said the state was not registered to supplies of sodium thiopental n March import the controlled substance and 15 due to concerns about how the drug failed to notify DEA about the shipment. was imported, and Georgia's executions (Source: Reuters, 01/04/2011) are on hold. Dorinda Carter, spokeswoman for Tennessee's Department of Correction, SWAZILAND: SERIAL KILLER SENTENCED said Friday that the state turned over its TO HANG supply of the drug at the request of the April 1, 2011: Convicted Swazi serial DEA last week. "There was no allegation killer David Simelane was sentenced to that Tennessee has done anything death by hanging, after being convicted improper," said Carter. "The DEA had last week for the death of 28 people, some concerns about the import mostly women and children. procedures of the domestic vendor that Judge Jacobus Annandale had been we used." expected only to hear mitigation from Carter said the state does not have an the defence, but instead he swiftly execution scheduled until September, handed down the death sentence nine but this "will impact our ability to carry days after convicting Simelane. out executions." Simelane will appeal both the conviction Separately, an official with knowledge of and the sentence, his court-appointed the action, said that Kentucky also had attorney Mduduzi "Tsotsi" Mabila said, turned over its supply of the drug. The but added that Simelane had been investigation of the drug imports started prepared for the worst. after a letter sent earlier this year to "He said he was ready for anything," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Mabila told AFP. behalf of Georgia death row inmate Women's rights groups celebrated the Andrew Grant DeYoung. In the February verdict outside court. Mbali Dlamini of 24 letter, De Young attorney John the Women's Coalition said the swift Bentivoglio wrote that Georgia sentence had come as a surprise in a corrections officials ordered the drug case that had dragged over a decade. from a pharmaceutical distributor in "He is not a person that should be let London, England. out into society ever, so it is right that The state received 50 vials of sodium he be hung," she told AFP. thiopental in July, Bentivoglio said, Simelane's killing spree is believed to
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have begun in the late 1990s and lasted organizing a prostitution ring, illegal until 2001 when families began imprisonment, and bribery, was reporting missing relatives. extradited to Chongqing. Police arrested Simelane in 2001 on a Wang's gang was caught in June 2009. tip-off, and he then led them to the Eleven of the gang members, including shallow graves of his victims in sites Wang's sister Wang Ziqi, received death dotted around the country. penalties or jail terms ranging from 2.5 A total of 45 bodies, including several to 19 years. pregnant women, were discovered -- Wang Wanning allegedly fled to Austria most in the woods in Malkerns, outside and the Philippines and was caught on Swaziland's main city Manzini. He was March 30 in a restaurant in Manila's charged with 34 murders, and convicted Chinatown district by police from China of 28. and the Philippines, said a spokesman Police claimed Simelane lured the for the Chongqing municipal public women with the promise of work. When security bureau. their bodies were discovered, they were Close cooperation between Interpol and too badly decomposed to determine if police authorities of China, Austria and they had been raped. the Philippines made the arrest No executions have been carried out in successful, the spokesman said. (Source: Swaziland since 1983. (Source: Afp: Xinhua, 02/04/2011) 02/04/2011)
News from International CHINA: ALLEGED CHINESE CRIMINAL NGOs - April 2011 RINGLEADER EXTRADITED FROM PHILIPPINES April 1, 2011: An alleged criminal PRI SIGNS UP TO A NEW CAMPAIGN ringleader in southwest China's ON HIV AND INJECTING DRUG USE: A Chongqing Municipality was extradited GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION from the Philippines where she had PRI joins IHRA and other civil society in a been hiding. new campaign HIV and Injecting Drug Wang Wanning, who is suspected of Use: A Global Call to Action which calls organizing and leading a criminal gang, on UN member States to adopt a new forcing women into prostitution, Declaration at UN General Assembly
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High Level Meeting on AIDS/ HIV from 8 financing, implementation and scale-up -10th June 2011. of evidence-based harm reduction interventions; and HIV and Injecting Drug Use: A Global Call to Action was the official declaration at (3) Commitment to removing legal and International Harm Reduction (IHRA’s) policy barriers to achieving the aims 22nd International Conference April 3rd above, particularly a reorientation of - 7th in Beirut, Lebanon. The goal of punitive drug policies toward evidence- the declaration is to provide a clear and human rights-based approaches platform for mobilising a broad constituency in support HIV-related The High Level meeting is one of the key harm reduction, injecting drug use, and international fora in 2011 through drug policy reform at the United Nations which to advance progress on harm High Level Meeting in June. Ten years reduction and related drug policy since the UN General Assembly Special reform that will reaffirm current Session on HIV/AIDS, world leaders and commitments to guide and sustain the civil society will come together to global AIDS response. review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at The International Harm Reduction the 2011 UN General Assembly High Association (IHRA) works to reduce drug Level Meeting on AIDS. -related harms by promoting evidence- based public health policy and practices The declaration calls for: and human rights-based approaches to (1) Acknowledgement that people who drug policy through an integrated use drugs, as a key population group programme of research, analysis, affected by HIV and AIDS, have not advocacy and collaboration with civil reached universal access to HIV society partners globally. prevention, treatment, care and support; For the text of the Declaration visit: http://www.penalreform.org/files/ (2) Renewed commitment and action IHRA_Declaration_Claudia_Final_Web% toward the goal of universal access to 5B1%5D.pdf comprehensive HIV prevention,treatment, care and support for people who inject drugs through the
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PRI WELCOMES TAJIKISTAN’S EASING combat HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, and OF CONDITIONS FOR LIFERS took the opportunity to discuss its PRI welcomes the news that on 13 April concerns about the treatment of life 2011 Tajikistan’s parliament adopted sentenced prisoners with the Human amendments to the Penal Enforcement Rights Ombudsman. In December of the Code that promise improvements in the same year PRI, in cooperation with the conditions of prisoners serving a life Office of the Ombudsman, the sentence. Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and local When, in 2004, Tajikistan initiated a civil society organisations, held a moratorium on executions, it adopted seminar in Dushanbe on international whole life imprisonment as an standards and norms for the treatment alternative to the death penalty. This of prisoners serving life and long sentence can be applied in cases of sentences, and good practice. murder, rape in aggravating circumstances, terrorism and genocide The new amendments to the Penal (all of which attract the death penalty Enforcement Code of Tajikistan under the current Criminal Code). The reportedly aim at improving the living conditions in which life sentences are conditions and health of life sentenced served, and the complete lack of parole prisoners, relaxing restrictions on access for life offenders, has caused serious to supplementary food purchased from concern to domestic civil society, PRI, the prison shop, and increasing and indeed the Ministry of Justice and eligibility for short and long visits from the Human Rights Ombudsman. The relatives and friends. This would mark a country’s inability to guarantee real step forward in ensuring that, adequate conditions for, and treatment following abolition of the death penalty, of, those convicted of the worst crimes the country can guarantee a prison has been a stumbling block in achieving regime that recognises the needs of full abolition of the death penalty. people facing life in prison. However, as the speaker of parliament noted, further In May 2010 PRI carried out training in intensive work is still needed to bring health and human rights for medical Tajikistan’s prison law and penal and security staff in the Tajik capital practice in line with international Dushanbe, in the context of a United standards. PRI would hope that this Nations sponsored programme to
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would include the introduction of some Justice was held between 11 and 15 possibility of early release. April 2011 in Vienna. A PRI delegation participated consisting of Executive On 26 April 2011Tajik representatives Director Alison Hannah, Policy Director will participate in a PRI-organised Mary Murphy and Regional Director for Central Asia regional seminar in Astana, Central Asia Saule Mektepbayeva. PRI’s Kazakhstan. PRI Board Member and interests in attending the Session were: Professor of Comparative Penal Law Dirk Van Zyl Smit will lead discussions To ensure that the criminal justice around further changes required to constituency are aware of the practical bring Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Tajik policy, relevance for them of the Optional legislation and practice in line with Protocol to the UN Convention against international standards and norms Torture (OPCAT), and to encourage surrounding abolition of the death engagement and interest in effective penalty and its replacement with implementation beyond Ministries of alternative sanctions. A national Justice conference in Tajikistan in May 2011, organised in cooperation with the To ensure that the criminal justice Human Rights Ombudsman, will provide constituency are better aware of the further opportunity for practical follow- recently adopted Bangkok Rules up. concerning women in the criminal justice system, and to encourage multi- PRI’s programme of work in support of agency planning for implementation. In abolition of the death penalty and its that regard, PRI with the Quaker UN replacement with a humane alternative Office distributed a briefing in 5 UN is financially supported by the European languages and spoke at a Thai Instrument for Human Rights and government-sponsored event chaired Democracy (EIDHR). by UNODC.
To remind participants that the PRI USES UN CRIME COMMISSION mandated review of the Standard SESSION TO HIGHLIGHT SMR REVIEW, Minimum Rules (SMR) for the BANGKOK RULES AND OPCAT treatment of prisoners is now under The 20th Session of the UN Commission way. In a statement circulated to all on Crime Prevention and Criminal states at the Session, PRI encouraged
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States to “use the process of reviewing consulting prisoners and encouraging the SMR for the Treatment of Prisoners normalization. (the Standard Minimum Rules) as an opportunity to recall the universal To highlight two other ongoing human rights that apply to every processes in which PRI has recently individual, including those held in places been involved by the UN Office on of deprivation of liberty..” The Drugs and Crime: developing Basic statement notes that deprivation of Principles and Guidelines on increasing liberty, should be used as a last sanction access to legal aid in criminal justice after other measures which can be systems and developing a model implemented in the community have juvenile justice law. PRI spoke with been exhausted and that “sentenced fellow members of the Interagency prisoners are in prison as punishment Juvenile Justice Panel at a side meeting not for punishment”. Under concerning children and pre-trial justice. international law torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment PRI also organized a very successful or punishment are absolutely prohibited session on OPCAT, chaired by Vera in all places and at all times and a basic Tkachenko, Manager of the UNODC and principle for safeguarding the human EU project on penal reform in rights of people deprived of their liberty Kyrgyzstan. At this session, the Deputy is openness. The statement also notes Chief Inspector of Prisons for England the particular rights of prisoners and Wales, Nigel Newcomen, spoke awaiting sentencing, disabled people about how the England and Wales’ and children. National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) ensures and demonstrates To raise some key issues that have independence and impartiality. PRI’s emerged from discussions between PRI Saule Mektepbayeva and Elvira Azimova and eminent UK figures and of the Kazakh Ministry of Justice shared organizations on this issue and identify the experience of Kazakhstan in moving states that can be champions of good from confrontation to cooperation in practice-based changes in the Rules. PRI the civil society/state debate on how to supported a session by Dr Kimmett implement OPCAT. Roland Schmidt of Edgar of the Friends World Council and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Prison Reform Trust on prisoner councils Human Rights Vienna made as one example of good practice in observations and recommendations on
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the implementation of OPCAT in fair trial and they must not use the Kazakhstan, based on his recent visits death penalty under any there with former UN Special circumstances,” said Malcolm Smart, Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak. Amnesty International’s Director for the Frances Crook, Director of the Howard Middle East and North Africa. League, emphasized the importance of gathering the views of prisoners, former “In this case, the accused were tried prisoners and their families, and that before a special military court, although the role of the NPM is a public one in they are civilians. It also appears that every sense. Reports of the NPM must the trial was conducted behind closed be public and the aim must be to ensure doors. As well, those sentenced have no that what is done in the public’s name right of appeal except to another special serves the interests of all its citizens and military court, raising great fears about not the machinery of the state. the fairness of the entire process.”
http://www.penalreform.org/files/PRI% The court sentenced Ali Abdullah 20statement%20to%20Crime% Hassan al-Sankis, Qassim Hassan Matar, 20Commission.doc Saeed Abduljalil Saeed and Adbulaziz Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain to death on 28 April. BAHRAIN URGED TO HALT EXECUTION OF PROTESTERS Three other defendants tried with them, 28 April 2011 Issa Abdullah Kadhim Ali, Sadeq Ali Authorities in Bahrain must not allow Mahdi and Hussein Jaafar Abdulkarim, the execution of four protesters were sentenced to life in prison by the sentenced to death by a military court same court. All seven accused are over the killing of two police officers in reported to have denied the charges. anti-government demonstrations last month, Amnesty International said The death sentences can be appealed in today. Bahrain’s military court. However, should the appeal fail, the final verdict “The Bahraini authorities have a cannot be appealed in Bahrain’s responsibility to bring to justice those ordinary courts. The four men could who commit violent crimes. But when therefore face imminent execution. doing so, they must uphold the right to
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The seven men were accused of the four have died in detention in suspicious premeditated murder of two policemen circumstances since the end of March. by running them over with a vehicle on 16 March. On 15 March, Bahrain’s King Local media reports say 312 detainees had declared a state of emergency – were released today. The government’s termed the State of National Safety Information Affairs Authority has told (SNS) – after Saudi Arabia sent in a the media that more than 400 other thousand troops to help the cases have been referred to the military government quell anti-government courts. protests. Many of the detainees were taken from The seven accused are believed to have their homes, often at night, by groups of been held incommunicado following police and security forces who wore their arrests and the families are said to masks, failed to produce arrest warrants have been denied access to them, and sometimes assaulted those they Amnesty International has learnt. wished to detain and members of their families. Government officials reportedly said that a total of four policemen have been “Bahrain is in the grip of a deepening killed during protests in March. human rights crisis and the severity of the sentences imposed today, following King Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa imposed a military trial behind closed doors, will the state of emergency for three do nothing to reverse that,” said months but it may be renewed with the Malcolm Smart. approval of the National Council or parliament. It provided for the “King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa must establishment of a special military court urgently make it clear that he will not to try those accused of offences under allow these death sentences to be the emergency and a special military carried out,” he added. appeal court. In 2010, two Bangladeshi national were Since the SNS was imposed, more than sentenced to death in Bahrain. Jassim 500 people have been arrested with Abdulmanan was executed in June and many of them detained incommunicado Russell Mezan was sentenced to death and at undisclosed locations. At least in March. His death sentence was
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upheld in October. Only foreign team of researchers. The database nationals have been sentenced to death includes statistics, information on penal and executed in Bahrain in recent years. laws, criminal procedure, death row conditions and political developments. Executions carried out in Bahrain are It is now available on line at normally by firing squad. www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org
Read More The data is publicly accessible and Bahrain: International pressure needed searchable, and will provide an now to halt spiralling human rights crisis invaluable resource for policymakers, (REPORT, 21 APRIL 2011) lawyers, courts, activists, scholars and the media searching for information on the use of the death penalty. COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY DEATH PENALTY DATA NOW AVAILABLE “We found that in the vast majority of Published by Aurélie Plaçais on April 19, retentionist states, there is a lively and 2011 serious debate about the merits of A new statistic and legal database offers abolition. Many governments that were a unique view of the use of capital previously committed to continuing a punishment in more than 90 states. practice of state-sponsored executions The Center for International Human have encouraged legislative committees Rights at Northwestern University or other bodies to consider the merits School of Law (Chicago, USA) and the of abolishing the death penalty – or, at a World Coalition Against the Death minimum, to narrowing the scope of its Penalty have launched an international application,” said Sandra Babcock, database on the practice and laws of Clinical Professor at Northwestern retentionist states. University Law School.
This new and unique resource will The database was launched on 14 April enhance the general understanding of 2011 at the Council of Europe (photo the application of the death penalty and above) and will be presented at the prospects for abolition. African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in the Gambia, at the UN Data from 90 states and 2 territories Human Rights Council in Geneva, and at have been compiled by an international
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the World Coalition's annual general The drug also has uses for anaesthesia, meeting in Morocco. and Smith’s letter to Kayem offered that the company “had perhaps believed the drugs were going to be used only to PRESSURED INDIAN FIRM STOPS help treat prisoners, not to kill them”. EXPORTING LETHAL DRUGS Published by Richard Fielding on April 8, Following the announcement of a large 2011 press conference on the subject, also The decision of Kayem Pharmaceuticals organized by Reprieve, and an audit by to stop supplying the US with execution the Indian government, Kayem drugs may well have been influenced by announced that they would no longer a campaign organized by World be selling the drug to the USA. Coalition member Reprieve. “In view of the sensitivity involved…” After nearly a year of looking all over the world for thiopental sodium, a drug A statement on Kayem’s website on currently used to carry out executions in April 8 read : “In view of the sensitivity the USA, it seemed the Departments of involved… we voluntarily declare Justice of several American states had that we as an Indian Pharma Dealer found their source : Kayem who cherishes the Ethos of Hinduism (A Pharmaceuticals in Mumbai. belief in even in non-living things as the creation of God) refrain ourselves from Orders were successfully delivered to selling this drug where the purpose is Nebraska and South Dakota by the purely for Lethal Injection.” Indian company before London-based World Coalition member organisation In response to the announcement, Reprieve got wind of the story and Reprieve called Kayem’s decision jumped into action. “excellent”, and urged all pharmaceutical companies worldwide A letter from Reprieve director Clive to do the same and refuse to sell Stafford Smith apparently alerted execution drugs to the United States. Kayem’s business manager to what the drug was being used for in the United US states seeking out other possibilities States. As state governments in the US
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scramble to find alternatives, the countries seemed far-fetched, if not spotlight has already fallen upon a fanciful. Danish company, Lundbeck, who is the only current supplier of a related drug Although it also strongly discourages the also used for executions. death penalty and encourages other means of resolution, the Koran does According to Reprieve investigator Mia sanction the practice in certain cases. Foa, “Lundbeck has now effectively This has been the backbone of elected to become the primary supplier retentionist argument throughout the of drugs for US executions”. Arab world.
Aware of the use of its drugs in the US, Hope and frustration for Arab Lundbeck will face increasing pressure abolitionists in the coming months from Reprieve and other groups to halt its sales. There were some hopes a few years ago that abolition might gain traction in the These groups will thus put pressure on Arab world. the US to rethink its death penalty The governments of Jordan and Syria system as a whole. made noises about considering abolition, or at least limiting the use of the death penalty. Morocco, Algeria and WILL ARAB REVOLUTIONS BRING NEW Lebanon all went as far as debating HOPE FOR ABOLITION? abolition bills in their parliaments. Published by Richard Fielding on April 4, 2011 But all three of the bills ultimately failed The winds of change have brought fresh due to religious opposition and fears of air to the abolitionist cause in countries encouraging terrorism. “The fight throughout the Middle East and North against terrorism renders it necessary to Africa, with new faces in power maintain the death penalty,” reigniting a stalled debate. commented an Algerian official in 2009.
Many Arab nations have abstained from Countries that were abolitionist in using the death penalty for years or practice have also slid back into their even decades. Yet the possibility of former habits, according to the Arab official abolition in most of those Observatory on the Death Penalty.
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Mauritania executed several Al Qaeida Ben Ali, rumours began to surface in operatives in 2010, and fears of Israeli February of this year that Tunisia would spying have stoked the public’s sign all the current conventions on enthusiasm for executions in Lebanon. human rights, including the Protocol on the abolition of the death penalty. No “Lebanon has legitimate security official steps have so far been taken, but concerns but resuming executions is it may indicate that the new wrong and will not make the country government is ready for a serious safer,” commented Nadim Houry, Beirut change in course on the question. director at Human Rights Watch. Egypt, one of the Arab world’s most Further, the Arab Charter on Human frequent users of the death penalty, has Rights, ratified by Arab nations in 2008, just overwhelmingly passed a still permitted child executions in referendum limiting presidential certain situations. This led the UN High powers, and will soon have its first Commissioner for Human Rights Louise meaningful elections in 30 years. Arbour to issue a statement that the UN “does not endorse these Several possible presidential candidates, inconsistencies”. among them Mohammed Al Baradei and Amr Moussa, have strong records As of January 2011, the only fully defending human rights. abolitionist Arab territories were Djibouti and the Western Sahara, which However, the Egyptian government’s is not officially independent. recent retreat from UN General Assembly resolution 65/206 calling for a Political waves bring new faces on the moratorium on the use of the death scene penalty indicates there is still a long way to go. But with the revolutions in Tunisia and The long-term effects of these social Egypt, and important social movements movements are hard to predict, but at in several other Arab states, the debate the very least, they may well open up about the death penalty may well get a the way for dialogue and debate over fresh look from a new set of faces. human rights issues such as the death penalty. Following the departure of President Governments in Algeria, Yemen, Syria
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and elsewhere are facing huge pressure to lift their decade-long states of emergency, which have stifled freedom of speech for generations of Arabs. An opening up of the political space could at the least give abolitionist groups the chance to present their ideas and see them debated openly and without fear of reprisal.
Download the World Coalition's report: Fighting against the Death Penalty in the Arab World
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