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DEATH PENALTY REPORT – MAY-JUNE 2018Date format: day/month/yearInternational Update (from 1.5.18 – 6.6.18)Malawi – 4.5.18 - The President of Malawi has called for a debate on introducing the death penalty for ‘albino hunters’ after the arrest of a gang of 12 accused of the kidnapping and murder of McDonald Masambuka, who was the 22nd person with albinism to have been killed in the country since 2014. (Source: The Sunday Times.)Mauritania – 4.5.18 – 21 national and international NGO’s called for the reversal of the recent adoption of a law on apostasy-related crimes making the death penalty mandatory for ‘blasphemous speech’ and ‘sacrilegious acts. They called also for the ending of the arbitrary detention – and guarantee of safety – of the blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir. (Source: Human Rights Watch.)Pakistan – 5.5.18 - The Army Chief confirmed death sentences had been imposed on 11 prisoners found guilty of multiple terrorism attacks that had resulted in the deaths of 60 civilians and security forces over recent years. (Source ABC News).USATexas – 8.5.18 – Judge Everett Young recommended that the death sentence imposed on Paul Storey, found guilty of murder in 2008, should be changed to life without parole following his review of evidence and finding that false evidence had been introduced at his trial regarding the wishes of the victim’s family. The case will now return to the Court of Criminal Appeals. (Source: The Texas Tribune.)6.6.18 – The death sentence of the prisoner Bobby Moore was reinstated by a State Court after it had been determined that he was ‘competent to be executed’. The US Supreme Court criticised the State in 2017 for its ‘obsolete standard’ of assessments of intellectual disability. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has said it has revised its standards to better reflect modern thinking and abide by the US Supreme Court directives. (Source: US News.)Massachusetts – 9.5.18 – Governor Charlie Baker has said his office is discussing with lawmakers and law enforcement officials the possibility of a bill to reinstate the death penalty for those who kill police officers. (Source: Boston Herald.) Illinois – 14.5.18 – Governor Bruce Rauner announced his wish to bring back the death penalty for mass murderers and those who kill police officers. It is now 18 years since capital punishment was effectively banned in the State and the last execution took place in 1999. (Source: Washington Post.) 17.5.18 – The proposal is to have a full House Hearing (Source: CBS Chicago.)Florida – 16.5.18 – Chris King, Democratic candidate for Governor, has vowed to eliminate the death penalty. (Source: ) New Hampshire – 17.5.18 – Organisers of an anti-death penalty coalition say they have delivered over 56,000 petition signatures to Republican Governor Chris Sununu urging him to sign a bill to repeal the State’s capital punishment law. The Bill was passed by the House and the Senate but it is unclear whether they have a two-thirds majority of votes in both, which would be needed to over-ride the Governor’s veto. (Source: The Seattle Times.) (See also DP Urgent Actions below)Alabama – 30.5.18 – A Federal Judge ordered officials of the Alabama Department of Corrections to release the State’s lethal injection protocol following a motion by the Montgomery Advertiser and other media outlets. This relates in particular to the case of Doyle Lee Hamm, whose lethal injection was ‘botched’ earlier in the year. His lawyers have argued that his veins were too damaged as a result of medical problems for an accessible IV line to be established. Note: Mr Hamm’s lawyers say the State is not seeking a second execution date but this has not been confirmed by officials. (Source: Montgomery Advertiser)Nebraska – 5.6.18 – It was reported that Judge Lori Moret had dismissed a lawsuit challenging the State’s lethal injection protocol. This was the second time in recent months that a Court dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block Nebraska’s efforts to resume executions after more than 20 years. (Source: Star Tribune.)California – 6.6.18 - Marin County Superior Court Judge Roy Chernus’s ruling of the previous week will allow the American Civil Liberties Union’s suit challenging aspects of the approved Proposition 66 to go ahead. The challenge includes the procedures for determining whether a condemned prisoner is sufficiently sane to be executed. (Source: SF Gate.)Sudan – 10.5.18 - Noura Hussein, a 19-year-old Sudanese woman, has had her death sentence confirmed. She had been found guilty of stabbing to death the husband to whom she was forcibly married, and who she says raped her with the assistance of his family. Her case has been taken up by Amnesty (see below) and a campaign has been trending on twitter. Her defence team have 15 days to appeal the sentence. (Source: The Guardian.) Note: See also Urgent Actions below.Kenya – 13.5.18 – It is reported that the Tourism and Wildlife Minister has announced that wildlife poachers in the country will face the death penalty, and that the measure will be fast-tracked into law. (Source: The Independent.)Belarus – 15.5.18 – The BBC carried a report on ’The Secret Executions in Europe’s last Dictatorship. According to Amnesty, two executions were carried out in 2017, and at least six men are believed to be on death row. The local Human Rights Group Viasna stated in 2016 that they face gross human rights violations, including ‘psychological pressure’, ‘torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.’ (Source: BBC News.)30.5.18 – The EU warned Belarus over reports of ‘secret’ executions, stating the country’s continued of the death penalty would be ‘key for shaping the EU’s future policy towards Belarus. (Source: Politico EU.)Algeria – 23.5.18 – Amnesty have said that the trial of Merzoug Touati, (pictured) due to457200187325 start on 24th May, is another stain on the country’s Human Rights record. Touati, who faces the death penalty, is accused of espionage as a result of on line posts claimed by the authorities to have encouraged civil unrest. He has been in detention since 2017. Amnesty, who have reviewed the Court documents, say there was no incitement to violence or advocacy of hatred and consider him a prisoner of conscience. (Source: Amnesty International, picture: )Malaysia – 25.5.28 – The Australian woman, Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto, has been sentenced to death by hanging by a three-Judge Panel who overturned her earlier acquittal of charges of drug smuggling. Arrested in 2014, Ms Exposto claimed to have no knowledge of the drugs found in her possession. Convictions of drug-related crimes carry a mandatory death sentence. A final appeal will be filed in the Federal Court. (Source: CNN)UAE – 29.5.18 - Ten prisoners of Indian nationality, originally sentenced to death, have been pardoned within Ramadan. Their death sentences were commuted in 2017 but they will now be free to return home three weeks ahead of their release date. (Source: Khaleej Times.)Burkina Faso – 31.5.18 – The Country’s Parliament has abolished the death penalty by adopting a new penal code removing it as a possible sentence. Justice Minister Rene Bagoro stated the revised document paved the way for ‘more credible, equitable, accessible and effective justice in the application of criminal law.’ The version of the Criminal Code adopted in 1996 retained capital punishment, but no death sentences had been imposed recently. (Source: ABC News.)Death Penalty Urgent ActionsIran – UA 171/17 (2nd Update) – Ramin Hossein Panahi, an Iranian Kurd sentenced to death after a grossly unfair trial, had been transferred back to the general ward of Sanandaj prison and was believed no longer to be at imminent risk of execution. A further update was received on 22.5.18 stating that his execution is now expected to be carried out soon after the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan on 15th June. (Circulated to DPLWG 22.5.18.)4572002825750USA – New Hampshire – UA 84/18 – A bill abolishing the death penalty in the State, passed by it legislature, is due to go to the Governor. He has said he will veto it. Appeals are to be sent, asking him to sign it or to allow it to become law. This would make New Hampshire the 20th abolitionist state in the USA. (Circulated to DPLWG 9.5.18.)Sudan – UA 95/18 + Email Action – Noura Hussein Hamad Doud, was sentenced to death for killing her husband in self-defence after he tried to rape her for a second time (see International Update above) (Circulated to DPLWG 15.5.18.)Texas – UA 100/18 – Clifton Williams is due to be executed in Texas on 21st June for a murder committed in 2005. The Courts have rejected the claim that he has an intellectual disability. His lawyers are seeking a further review on this issue and are also pursuing executive clemency. (Circulated to DPLWG 18.5.18.)Egypt – UA 243/14 – Update – The Cairo Criminal Court has set 30th June as the date for issuing the verdict in the case against Mahmoud Abu Zeid ‘Shawkan’ and 738 other defendants. The verdict will come after Shawkan has been held in pre-trial detention for 1781 days. Amnesty recognise him as a prisoner of conscience detained solely for carrying out his role as a journalist. (Circulated to DPLWG 1.6.18 – This month’s Group Urgent Action.)CampaigningThe letter sent to the Salisbury Journal expressing concern that trade appeared to take priority of Human Rights issues in the UK Government’s approach to Saudi Arabia, was published on 3rd May.No updates have been received regarding the Death Penalty Project, and no advice issued for Local Groups. It is hoped that a national action will be put forward by the Group in time for this year’s World Day Against the Death Penalty. ................
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