Death Penalty News

Chapter III of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran contains provisions related to the rights of the people.  In this Chapter, Article 22 states: “The dignity, life, property, rights, domicile, and occupations of people may not be violated, unless sanctioned by law.” However, the number of crimes punishable by death in Iran is among the highest in the world. Charges such as “adultery, incest, rape, sodomy, insulting the Prophet Mohammad and other great Prophets, possessing or selling illicit drugs, theft and alcohol consumption for the 4th time, premeditated murder, moharebeh (waging war against God), efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth), baghy (armed rebellion), fraud and human trafficking” are capital offences.[1] Many of the charges punishable by death cannot be considered as “most serious crimes” and do not meet the ICCPR standards.[2] Murder, drug possession and trafficking, rape/sexual assault, moharebeh and efsad-fil-arz and baghy are the most common charges resul...

In sub-Saharan Africa, a region with no shortage of development issues, Botswana stands out for its strong economy, stable democracy and commitment to the rule of law. But by one measure the country is frighteningly narrow-minded — its support for capital punishment. Most of Africa is abandoning the death penalty, according to Amnesty International. Today, just 10 African countries allow for capital punishment and only a handful ever use it. But Botswana — an affluent, landlocked, diamond-exporting state — is among the leading exceptions. After a lull in killings in 2017, it has resumed by executing convicted murderers Joseph Tselayarona (28) in February and Uyapo Poloko (37) in May. Botswana’s legal system, and the basis for capital punishment, is rooted in English and Roman-Dutch common law. According to the country’s penal code, the preferred punishment for murder is death by hanging. Although the Constitution protects a citizen’s “right to life”, it makes an exce...

Public beheading in Saudi Arabia (file photo) Saudi Arabia on Tuesday beheaded 2 more of its citizens and a Pakistani, continuing the strictest punishment under new King Salman. Omar bin Yahya bin Ibrahim al-Barkati was tried and convicted of incest, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. "He was executed as punishment for his crime and as a lesson to others," the ministry said, adding that authorities carried out the sentence in southwestern Asir region. In a separate case, Yassir bin Hussein al-Hamza was executed in northwestern Jawf region after his trial and confession for smuggling amphetamine pills, the ministry said. A 3rd convict, Latif Khan Nurzada, a Pakistani, was executed for trafficking heroin into the kingdom. He was executed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, the ministry said in another statement. According to an AFP tally, their executions bring to 16 the number of Saudis and foreigners pu...