Amnesty in Salisbury



DEATH PENALTY REPORT – DECEMBER 17 – JANUARY 18Date format; day/month/yearInternational Update (14.12.17 – 18.1.18)USA – 14.12.17 – The Death Penalty Information Centre report for 2017 shows that 23 people were executed and 39 sentenced to death in the US, but only a few counties and states now support capital punishment, with executions and death sentences remaining at historic lows. The report also found that 90% of the executions involved people with ‘significant evidence’ of mental illness, intellectual disability, brain damage or severe trauma, and that some of those executed were innocent. (Source: Death Penalty Information Centre; The Guardian.)California – It is reported that of the six major Party candidates for Governor in 2018, all four Democrats, and one of two Republicans, say they are against the death penalty. (Source: San Francisco Chronicle.)95250078803500Texas – Harris County – 27.12.17 – In recent decades, no county has been as prolific in its application of the death penalty, but in 2017 – for the first time in more than 40 years, no-one was executed, and no-one was sentenced to death. There is some disagreement as to why this should be, but experts see the landmark as a symbol of shifting attitudes towards the death penalty, both in Harris County and around the USA as a whole. (Source: The Christian Science Monitor.)Georgia – 8.1.18 – The US Supreme Court has ruled that Keith Tharpe, may make a further appeal against his conviction of murder in 1990. A juror in his sworn affidavit had used a racial epithet to describe Mr Tharpe, who is black. Note: His execution was halted in September 2017 on the day it was due to be carried out.Kenya – 14.12.17 – The Supreme Court made a ruling that terms mandatory death penalties for capital offences as unconstitutional. Those convicted of murder and robbery with violence may now have fresh hearings as the Court reviews their penalties. Some of the factors to be considered include the age of the offender, the number of times the offender has been accused, whether or not the offender enters a plea of guilty, the offender’s current behaviour, whether the offence was gender violence related, whether the offender shows remorse and the chances of rehabilitation and ‘social re-adaption’. (Source: The Standard.)Israel – 17.12.17 – Israeli political leaders agreed to submit a draft bill to Parliament which would enable capital punishment to be imposed on ‘terrorists’. Although the wording of the statement was not explicit, the bill is believed to be aimed at Palestinian militants, in line with past pledges made by Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman. (Source: Mail Online.)19.12.17 – According to Hebrew media reports, the bill is likely to be opposed by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, arguing that executions do not deter attacks. (Source: The Times of Israel.)3.1.19 – Israel’s Parliament gave preliminary approval for legislation that would make it easier for a Court to pass such a death sentence. Israel’s Military Courts already have the power to issue a death sentence, although this has never been implemented. The amendment to the Penal Code will require three more readings before it can become law. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that ‘in principle’ he would apply the reasoning behind the amendment to Jewish militants convicted of killing Palestinians. (Source: Daily Mail.)6.1.18 – The Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, opposed the calls for the death penalty, saying it offered ‘no gain’ for the Israeli public, but instead potential danger for world Jewry. (Source: The Jerusalem Post).China – 18.12.17 – A Court in Lufeng in the southern Guangdong province, invited members of the public to watch the sentencing of 10 prisoners at a local sports stadium. Thousands attended. Following the verdicts, and with the approval of the Court, those who had received death sentences for drug offences ‘were escorted immediately to the place of execution and terminated’. It is understood that public sentencing is rare in contemporary China but it appears to have been gaining momentum in the coastal region of southern Guangdong. (Source: The BBC)Malawi – 24.12.17 – Presidential adviser on local policies, and chair of the National Technical Committee on Abuse of Persons, Dr Hetherwick Ntaba, has announced in a conference in Lilongwe that he is in favour of resuming executions for people convicted of murdering individuals with albinism. (Source: Nyasa Times.)Iran – 25.12.17 – Iran’s Supreme Court has approved the death sentence of the Iranian researcher, Ahmad Reza Jalali. Mr Jalali was accused of spying for Israel and has been in jail since April 2016. Earlier this month, he was shown on State TV confessing to providing information to Mossad about Iranian military and nuclear scientists. It is not clear if he was speaking under duress. It is unknown when the sentence is to be carried out. The ruling is not subject to appeal (Source: The Hindu.)2.1.18 – The demonstrations in Iran have resulted to date in at least 21 deaths. Hundreds of people have been arrested, and a prominent Judge has warned that some could face the death penalty. (Source: The Independent.)Egypt – 26.12.17 – Fifteen militants, who had been convicted of carrying out attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula in 2013, were hanged in two prisons in the north of the Country. This was the first mass execution in Egypt since the hanging of six jihadists in 2015. (Source: BBC.)Malaysia – 27.12.17 – The Court has accepted the Defence arguments that the Australian, Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto, arrested at Kuala Lumpur Airport in December 2014 with 1.1 kg of crystal methamphetamine, had been unaware of the presence of the drugs in her luggage. She had been facing a mandatory death sentence but was acquitted and was free to leave the Court (Source: BBC.)Japan – 29.12.17 - Justice Ministry Officials report that the number of prisoners on death row at the end of 2017 was expected to be 123. Four prisoners were executed in the course of the year, three of whom were still awaiting news of their requests for re-trials; one was aged 19 at the time of the crime of which he had been convicted. The Federation of Bar Associations has called for the abolition of capital punishment by 2020, but the most recent Government survey (2014) showed that 80.3 % of those aged 20 or over were in support of the death penalty. This, however, is a reduction form the record 85.6% in the previous survey carried out in 2009. (Source: ABS-CBN News.)UK – 4.1.18 – A report by Queen Mary University of London on attitudes within UK political parties, found that 54% of Conservatives were in favour of the death penalty, compared to 23% of SNP supporters, 9% of Labour activists and 8% of Lib Dem backers. (Source: Sky News.)The Maldives – 4.1.18 – There are concerns that executions may resume shortly. The Home Minister has confirmed that the method they intend to use is hanging, and the execution chamber is complete. (Source: Reprieve.)Indonesia – 10.1.18 - Indonesian Politicians have agreed to soften the nation’s harsh death penalty laws. The proposed new legislation would impose a 10-year stay on executions, after which the death penalty could be commuted to a term of imprisonment – 20 years or life. It is felt the proposed changes would have given authorities greater leeway with regard to the execution of those such as the Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumuran, who were seen as model prisoners. 18 people, the majority foreigners, and all of whom were convicted of drug smuggling, have been executed under the rule of President Joko Widodo. (Source: ABC News.)Trinidad – 15.1.18 – Five British Judges are considering whether Jay Chandler, a prisoner who may be mentally ill, should remain on death row after a Caribbean Court convicted him of murdering another prisoner. The hearing in London is to be held amid concern over the spiralling murder rate in Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad is one of more than 30 overseas territories, dependencies and Commonwealth states that rely on the JCPC in Westminster as their ultimate court of appeal. A 1993 landmark ruling established the principle that delays of more than 5 years between sentence and execution were degrading and inhuman punishment. As a result, hundreds of prisoners have had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. More recent Privy Council cases have established legal precedents against imposing capital punishment on prisoners with intellectual disabilities. (Source: The Guardian.) Urgent ActionsIran – 3.1.18 - A tweet was sent on behalf of the Group calling on Ali Khamenei to stop the execution of the juvenile offender Amirhossein Pourjafar, who had been sentenced to death two years earlier at the age of 16 for rape and murder. (He was executed at dawn on 4.1.18.)Belarus – UA 195-17 – Update – The death sentences imposed on Ihar Hershankou and Siamion Berazhnoy have been upheld by the Supreme Court of Belarus. They had been found guilty of murder. Both men will now request clemency from the President, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, but their appeals are likely to be rejected and they will be at imminent risk of execution. (Circulated to DPLWG 15.1.18).CampaigningReggie Clemons – Christmas cards signed by the Group were sent to Reggie, with good wishes for his forthcoming trial.An email was received on 17.12.17 from Reggie’s mother, Vera Thomas, thanking the Group for their support, and advising that the Jury Selection for Reggie’s retrial was due to begin on 8th January, and the trial on the 15th.On 18.12.17 a post on the website of the St Louis Public Radio announced that Reggie had admitted he played a part in the rape and murder of the two sisters on the Chain of Rocks Bridge. He did not admit to pushing the sisters from the bridge but said he ‘did nothing to physically prevent the girls from being pushed into the river and stayed at the manhole preventing their escape. Reggie will no longer face the death penalty but will spend the rest of his life in prison. Since he will no longer face the death penalty, the Group will no longer need to campaign on his behalf. All those who have worked for Reggie’s case over the years are thanked for their support. Ali al Nimr – The Group were emailed on 20.12 17, and members and supporters advised on the website, of the forthcoming 23rd birthday on 21st December of Ali al Nimr, and invited to send him a message of support. This would be the sixth birthday he had spent in prison. He remains at constant risk of execution by crucifixion. (Note: Ali was accused of participation in an illegal demonstration in the wake of the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprising).Anti-Death Penalty Project – LC has been advised that the AIUK Working Group is up and running. An email is expected next week to confirm that ‘the Committee has set itself up, (has) defined priority work streams and is now developing specific campaigns, messaging and resources with a view to going ‘fully live’ at the AGM’. We have been added to the list for receiving updates.18/01/18 ................
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