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Japan | Hakamada found religion, but then felt under attack by ‘the devil’

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Editor's note: This is the last in a four-part series on letters that Iwao Hakamada wrote while on death row. About a decade after cursing God, Iwao Hakamada was baptized Catholic at the Tokyo Detention House on Dec. 24, 1984. “Since I have been given the Christian name Paul, I am keenly feeling that I should be aware of the greatness of Paul.” (June 1985)

Iran: Eight Prisoners Hanged at Rajai Shahr Prison

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Iran Human Rights (JULY 6 2017): On the morning of Wednesday July 5, eight prisoners were reportedly hanged at Rajai Shahr Prison. 

According to close sources, the prisoners were likely executed on murder charges.

Iran Human Rights has obtained the names of four of these prisoners: Ghahreman Abbaspour, Abbas Yousefi, Nasser Avangah and Omid Rostami.

The eight individuals were among a group of eleven prisoners who were transferred to solitary confinement on Sunday July 2 in preparation for their executions. 

The execution sentences of three of the eleven prisoners were not carried out, and they were returned to their cells.

The human rights news agency, HRANA, had reported that Ghahreman Abbaspour was sentenced to death for murder based on Qasameh (a testimonial given under oath) and despite the lack of evidence against him.

Qasameh is one way, within the Islamic jurisprudence and criminal law in Iran, to prove crimes related to murder and physical injuries without enough evidence against the suspect. 

Qasameh is used when a judge believes the testimonial to be true despite lack of evidence.

Source: Iran Human Rights, July 6, 2017

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