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First Third Of 2024 In Saudi Arabia: Executions Rise By 189% And Portend Another Bloody Year. At Least 71 Currently Facing Execution.

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Since the beginning of 2024 until the end of April, the Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia announced the execution of 55 individuals. This figure constitutes a 189% increase compared to the executions in the first third of 2023, which witnessed 19 executions. The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights views these numbers as a clear indication of the Saudi government's continued approach towards executing and issuing death sentences, and that the promises made in recent years have become elusive.

Hopes fade for Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran as clemency bid knocked back

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Andrew Chan (left) and Myuran Sukumaran (right)
Myuran Sukumaran is one step closer to the firing squad after appearing to have lost his bid for clemency from the Indonesian president.

A letter rejecting the clemency bid of the the Bali Nine member was hand-delivered to Kerobokan prison by an Indonesian government official on Wednesday, according to News Corporation reports.

The letter, dated December 30, 2014, was printed on the letterhead of "Presiden Republik Indonesia" and has Joko Widodo's name printed underneath.

The text says there is "not enough reason" for the clemency bid to be granted, and makes clear that, "The decision is in effect on the day it is decided."

It is unclear how the apparent rejection will fit with the determination by the lawyers for Sukumaran and the other Bali Nine member on death row, Andrew Chan, to lodge an application for judicial review of their case. This is an appeal that can be lodged when there is new evidence.

Chan has not received a letter, reports say.

Under current Indonesian law, an indefinite number of review applications can be made, although the government has threatened to crack down on this.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo has made it clear he wants all 64 drug smugglers on death row executed to battle the "scourge" of drugs in the country.


Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Bachelard, January 7, 2015

Report an error, an omission: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com
Location: Bali, Indonesia
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