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Before it is too late Biden must turn words into deeds on the death penalty

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Joe Biden’s Catholic faith should inspire him to stop the federal death penalty in its tracks In the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, opponents of the death penalty are mounting a campaign to convince President Biden to commute the sentences of everyone on federal death row. Doing so would be a vindication not only of his announced anti-death penalty position but also of his Catholic faith .

Vietnam court upholds death penalty for tycoon in multibillion-dollar fraud case

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Vietnamese courts said that property developer Truong My Lan's sentence could be reduced to life imprisonment if she pays back three quarters of the assets she is accused of stealing from Saigon Commercial Bank. A Vietnamese court upheld the death penalty Tuesday for a property tycoon in a multi-billion dollar fraud case -- but said her life could still be spared if she paid back three quarters of the assets she embezzled.

Indonesia secures release of citizen on death row in Saudi Arabia

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Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has brought back an Indonesian woman who was sentenced to death for murder in Saudi Arabia and returned her to her family in Bangkalan, East Java. The woman, identified by the initials HMM, was detained by the Saudi authorities and sentenced to death in 2009 for killing her Saudi husband, according to a statement in Jakarta on Monday. The ministry and the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made several efforts to resolve the case through diplomatic, litigation, and non-litigation means and to secure HMM's release.

Biden Has “Pardoned” Eight Turkeys. Will He Spare the Lives of 40 Human Beings?

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With Trump returning to the White House, only mass commutations will stop another federal execution spree. Five days after Orlando Hall was executed in the federal death chamber, Donald Trump appeared in the White House Rose Garden for the 2020 Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony. The enormous white birds, Corn and Cob, stood ridiculously as Trump wished them a “very long, happy, and memorable life.” At the Special Confinement Unit inside the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, men on death row watched news coverage on TV.

Iran | Executions in Arak, Karaj, Nahavand

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 29, 2024: Kamran Hemati, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Arak Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Arak Central Prison on 28 November. His identity has been established as Kamran Hemati from Khorramabad. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court. At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Another Execution, Another Assault on American Values—Indiana Won’t Allow the Press to Be Present When the State Kills

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On December 18, Indiana hopes to get back into the execution business. On that date, it plans to put Joseph Corcoran to death for the 1997 murder of four people, including his brother. Corcoran is one of eight men on Indiana’s death row—also called “X Row.” The others include an inmate who “stabbed two co-workers after he was fired,” another who “shot and killed a police officer,” and two people who each “killed multiple children.” Corcoran’s lawyers are seeking a stay of execution because he has long suffered from a serious mental illness. As they explain, he “cannot distinguish between reality and his delusions and hallucinations — his delusions are his reality.”

‘Time for compassion to prevail’: could the remaining Bali Nine members finally be coming home?

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The new Indonesian president – who came to office with a questionable human rights record – has emerged as an unlikely champion for a prisoner swap deal In the dark of the early morning of 29 April 2015, two members of Australia’s so-called Bali Nine were each tied to a stake in a floodlit field on the Indonesian prison island of Nusakambangan. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran refused blindfolds, and sang as they stood before a firing squad of 12. They were killed at 12.35am.

France requests transfer of death row convict held in Indonesia

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Jakarta (AFP) – France has asked Indonesia to transfer a French death row convict, who has been jailed for drug crimes in the Asian nation since 2005, a senior Indonesian minister told AFP on Friday. Indonesia is in discussion with three countries, including France, over the return of several high-profile detainees and aims to transfer the prisoners by the end of December. "The French embassy has delivered a letter from France's justice minister to Indonesia's law minister dated November 4 containing a request for the transfer of a French prisoner named Serge Atlaoui," senior law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra told AFP in a message.

23rd Woman Executed in Iran in 2024

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 29, 2024: Fariba Maleki Shahivand, a woman on death row for murder, was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman was executed in Khorramabad (Parsilion) Central Prison on 24 November. Her identity has been established as Fariba Maleki Shahivand, a mother to a five-year-old girl. An informed source told IHRNGO: “Fariba was accused of unintentionally killing her sister-in-law and mother-in-law during an altercation four years ago, when her daughter was just one year old.”

Singapore hangs 4th person in three weeks

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SINGAPORE, Singapore — Singapore hanged a 35-year-old Singaporean-Iranian man for drug trafficking on Friday, its fourth in less than a month, despite appeals from Tehran to "reconsider" his execution. The United Nations and rights groups say capital punishment has no proven deterrent effect and have called for it to be abolished, but Singaporean officials insist it has helped make the country one of Asia's safest. Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad, a Singaporean citizen born in the city-state to a Singaporean mother and an Iranian father, was convicted in 2013 for drug trafficking.

Iran | Executions in Karaj, Nahavand, Rasht, Esfarayen

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 28, 2024: Ashkan Moradi, Jalal Haj Babay, Davoud Heidari and Ehsan Basati Valiabad were executed for drug-related offences in Karaj Penitentiary. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Karaj Penitentiary (Central Prison) on 26 November. His identity has been established as 32-year-old Ehsan Basati Valiabad who was arrested four years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related offences.

Iranian Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh Appeals to Singapore President to Pardon Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad Set to Be Executed Nov. 29

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 28, 2024: Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer and recipient of numerous international awards, including the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award, and the European Human Rights Award, has appealed to the President of Singapore to grant clemency to Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad, who is scheduled to be executed tomorrow, 29 November 2024.

Idaho Supreme Court rejects Creech cruel and unusual punishment argument

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The Idaho Supreme Court has ruled that a second attempt to execute an Idaho death row inmate would not violate his Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The Wednesday decision affirms an earlier district court decision, rejecting an appeal by Thomas Creech. Creech, 74, survived his first execution attempt in February after the execution team failed to establish vein access and called off the execution. 

Iran | Executions in Jiroft, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Tabriz, Gonbad Kavous

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 25, 2024: Nader Ghanizadeh and Naser Salmani were executed for murder and drug-related charges in Jiroft Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Jiroft Prison on 23 November. Their identities have been established as Nader Ghanizadeh and Naser Salmani who was 62 years old. Nader was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder and Naser was on death row for drug-related offences.

Vietnam tycoon Truong My Lan told to repay US$11 billion to avoid death penalty

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Vietnamese prosecutors have told property tycoon Truong My Lan she must repay an estimated US$11 billion if she wants to avoid execution by lethal injection. Lan, 68, is appealing her death sentence after being convicted in April of embezzling US$12.3 billion from Saigon Commercial Bank. She was also found guilty of bribing government officials and violating bank lending rules. Prosecutors have so far argued against leniency at her hearing in Ho Chi Minh City unless she finds a way to return a significant chunk of the 415.7 trillion dong (US$16.4 billion) she was found guilty of embezzling in two separate trials, according to her lawyer.

Arizona to resume executions after two-year pause

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PHOENIX — Arizona will resume executions — perhaps as soon as early 2025, officials say. The decision by Attorney General Kris Mayes comes after Gov. Katie Hobbs dismissed, on Tuesday, the retired federal magistrate she had hired in early 2023 to review the process the state uses to put condemned people to death. Mayes said she was waiting on that report before seeking any death warrants from the Arizona Supreme Court. David Duncan has not finished his work, for which he was authorized to charge $175 an hour, up to $100,000.

Japan Goes Over 2 Years without Execution

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Tokyo, Nov. 27 (Jiji Press)--More than two years have passed since Japan previously conducted an execution, as calls for the abolition of capital punishment in the country grow again, following the acquittal of former death row inmate Iwao Hakamada in a retrial. At the end of October, there were a total of 107 inmates on death row in the country. Under the country’s Penal Code, death sentences are carried out by hanging upon the order of the justice minister. 

Another woman executed in Iran at dawn on Sunday, November 24, 2024

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Fariba Maleki Shiravand, 36 years old, was hanged in the Central Prison of Khorramabad, the capital of the western province of Lorestan. Fariba Maleki Shiravand was arrested and jailed four years ago on charges of deliberate murder. The Iranian Judiciary sentenced her to death. Fariba Maleki is the 17th woman executed since the regime’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian took office on July 28. Her execution on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women brings the number of women executed this year to 28 .

Singapore | Fourth POFMA order for anti-death penalty activist group Transformative Justice Collective

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A targeted correction direction has also been issued to TikTok, which will be required to carry a correction notice to all end-users in Singapore who accessed the post. SINGAPORE: The Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) – an activist group that campaigns against the death penalty - was issued a fourth Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) order on Tuesday (Nov 26). The correction direction relates to posts made by TJC on its Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X pages on Nov 20. Activists Kokila Annamalai and Rocky Howe were added as collaborators on the Instagram post.

California | Judge in LA delays until January decision on resentencing Menendez brothers

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Monday delayed until January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago, squashing their family’s hope the brothers would be released and home for the holidays. Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said at the hearing in Los Angeles that he needed time to review 17 boxes of documents and give a new district attorney in Los Angeles County time to weigh in on the case.

Bali 5: Hurdles Ahead to Homecoming. France also requests repatriation of French national Serge Atlaoui jailed in Indonesia for drug trafficking

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The Republic of Indonesia has quickly endorsed and accepted a Presidential principle agreement to return the five remaining members of the notorious “Bali Nine” to Australia, effectively truncating the five’s life sentence now being served in an Indonesian prison. On Saturday, 23 November 2024, Indonesian Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, confirmed the commutation of the five Australians life sentences, stipulating that the Australian convicts would be transferred to Australian prisons to serve indeterminate sentences. The exact period to be served by the five remains under review but is anticipated to be less than the life sentence without parole they are serving in Indonesia.

Iran | Executions in Hamedan, Shiraz, Rasht

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 21, 2024: Alireza Yarmohammadi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Hamedan Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Hamedan Central Prison on 17 November. His identity has been established as 22-year-old Alireza Yarmohammadi from Malayer who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

Bali Nine members could continue sentences in Australia, as PM urged to explain deal

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The remaining Bali Nine members would continue to serve their sentences in Australia, a Labor minister says, as the Opposition calls on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to "stand up and explain" the deal. Talks are underway to return members of the so-called Bali Nine drug smuggling ring to Australia, the federal trade minister has confirmed. But he asserted that they would continue to serve their sentences and not be released.

As clock ticks toward another Trump presidency, federal death row prisoners appeal for clemency

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President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office is putting a spotlight on the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, which houses federal death row. In Bloomington, a small community of death row spiritual advisors is struggling to support the prisoners to whom they minister.  Ross Martinie Eiler is a Mennonite, Episcopal lay minister and member of the Catholic Worker movement, which assists the homeless. And for the past three years, he’s served as a spiritual advisor for a man on federal death row.

Missouri bishops urge state to refrain from executing convicted child-killer next month

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St. Louis, Mo., Nov 22, 2024 / 15:05 pm - Missouri’s bishops are urging the state to forgo executing a man next month who was convicted of the 2007 abduction, rape, torture, and murder of a 9-year-old girl. Police said Christopher Collings confessed to killing Rowan Ford after raping her on Nov. 3, 2007. The murder took place in rural Stella, Missouri, in the far southwest corner of the state.