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Indonesia | 14 years on death row: Timeline of Mary Jane Veloso’s ordeal and fight for justice

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MANILA, Philippines — The case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has spanned over a decade and remains one of the most high-profile legal battles involving an overseas Filipino worker. Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was sentenced to death in October – just six months after her arrest. Indonesia’s Supreme Court upheld the penalty in May 2011.

AFGHANISTAN. REPORTER FACING DEATH SENTENCE DENIES BLASPHEMY

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May 18, 2008: an Afghan journalist sentenced to death on blasphemy charges pleaded not guilty during his appeal hearing that started in the capital Kabul.

The court hearing Parwiz Kambakhsh's appeal gave him until next Sunday to present his defence statement against the primary provincial court's ruling. "The court gives you one week to prepare your defence," Abdul Salam Qazizada, the appeal judge said.
Kambakhsh said he would be represented at his next hearing by a lawyer. He also told the judge that his first trial was "unjust" because he was given only three minutes to defend himself.

The 23-year-old journalist denied the charges, saying: "I'm a Muslim and will never allow myself to insult my religion."

Kambakhsh, who read out verses from the Koran, added: "I was forced to sign the allegation papers. I was tortured (by security forces) and had no other choice to accept the allegations."

Source: Agence France Presse, 18/05/2008
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