International Death Penalty News 2022, Issue 48: Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United States of America

Algeria

On Saturday, November 19, 2022, a public prosecutor asked that over 70 people be sentenced to death for murdering a man. On August 11, 2021, 38-year-old Jamal Ben Ismail was wrongly accused of starting a fire because he was new to the region. A mob captured Jamal and tortured him before burning him alive. His body was then mutilated. At least 25 others also face charges that could result in a 10-year prison sentence.

Bangladesh

On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, Kamal, alias Excel Kamal, was executed in Kashimpur Central Jail. He was convicted of murdering freedom fighter Gias Uddin in Narayanganj. The execution was carried out by hanging.

China

On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, the Jiangxi Provincial High People’s Court upheld the death sentence of Lao Rongzhi. Lao is convicted, along with her ex-boyfriend Fa Ziying, of murdering seven people. They kidnapped at least one of their victims and another was killed during a home robbery. Lao later claimed that she was manipulated by her boyfriend. Fa has already been executed.

Indonesia

Fifty-two-year-old Australian national, Graham Elton Jeffrey Huynh could be sentenced to death for bringing heroin into the country. In a statement made before his hearing, Graham apologized for bringing the drugs into the nation. His lawyers had previously shown that Graham was a heroin addict for 15 years. He has received treatment while awaiting trial.

Iran

On Saturday, November 12, 2022, three men were executed in Shiraz Central Prison. Two of the men were identified as Vahid Pakzad and Keyvan Tajadod. The third man was not identified by name. Vahid was sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Keyvan was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. The third man was also convicted on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet announced the executions.

On Sunday, November 13, 2022, Sultan Seifi was executed in Qom Central Prison. Sultan, a former taxi driver, was arrested about three years ago and convicted on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, November 13, 2022, three Baluch men were executed in Zahedan Central Prison. The three men were identified as Emam Bakhsh Narouyi, Mohsen Anshini, and Vali Roudini. All were convicted on drug-related charges. Allegedly, the men were given no notice of their pending executions and were denied their right to a last visit with their families. State officials and the media have not yet announced the executions.

On Monday, November 14, 2022, Davoud Bahrami was executed in Hamedan Central Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death for drug-related charges. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media. Davoud was permitted a final visit with his family before his execution.

On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, Nasser Dehmordeh, a Baluch minority, was executed in Birjand Central Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

On Friday, November 18, 2022, two Baluch men were executed in Torbat Jam Prison. The men have been identified as Mohammad Nabi Suleimani and Abdullah Sufi. Mohammad and Abdullah have always denied the drug charges against them and on the day of their execution, a prison protest occurred in an attempt to halt their executions. Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Friday, November 18, 2022, Baluch minority Esmail Faghirdadzehi was executed in Zahedan Central Prison. He was convicted of murder during a tribal conflict about six years ago and was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Friday, November 18, 2022, Amin Abil, a Baluch man, was executed in Mashhad Central Prison. Amin was convicted on drug-related charges and sentenced to death. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, November 20, 2022, an unnamed person was sentenced to death for partaking in protests against the government. He is the sixth such person to receive a death sentence in recent days for being involved in protests. Allegedly, this protester had a weapon and intended to use it against the Revolutionary Guard Corps. At least one member of the Guards was injured during a clash with the protesters. Protests have been ongoing throughout Iran since a woman was arrested by the morality police and died while in custody. In attempts to crack down on the protests, the government has approved protesters being sentenced to death.

On Saturday, November 26, 2022, Keyhan Shakerpahani was executed in Kashan Central Prison. His crime was not reported. His execution has also not yet been reported by state officials and the media.

On Saturday, November 26, 2022, three men were executed in Isfahan Central Prison. Two of the men have been identified as Hossein Kheirollahi and Saheb Rasouli. Both were convicted and executed on drug-related charges. The third man was not identified by name, nor was his crime announced. State officials and the media have not yet reported the executions.

On Saturday, November 26, 2022, Keyhan Shakerpahani was executed in Kashan Central Prison. The charges against him have not yet been reported. State officials and the media have to yet report his execution.

The Iranian parliament is attempting to finalize laws that would permit the death penalty for anyone who contacts foreign media outlets. It is thought that the Parliament is unhappy with videos and images spreading throughout the world showing the brutality used against the protesters. The new law would also place limits on what people are allowed to film on the streets. While not yet law, the Iranian regime has blamed foreign media for helping to incite the ongoing protests.

Japan

Three death row inmates are attempting to argue in court that execution by hanging is cruel and unconstitutional punishment. They are seeking to prevent Japan from executing them by hanging. Additionally, the inmates are seeking compensation for the years of “dread” they have suffered since being sentenced to death.

Kuwait

On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, seven people were executed by hanging. Four of those executed were Kuwaiti nationals, including a woman. A man from Pakistan, a man from Syria, and an Ethiopian woman were also executed. They were convicted for a variety of crimes including murder, kidnapping, and possessing and using an unlicensed firearm. The UN Human Rights Office has condemned the executions.

Myanmar

Eleven people, including seven university students, have been sentenced to death in Myanmar. The university students were convicted of murdering a bank manager. The four other people were convicted of murdering an official.

Saudi Arabia

In the last two weeks of November, at least 12 people were executed by beheading in the kingdom. The names of those executed were not reported however, they were identified as four Syrians, three Pakistanis, three Saudis, and two Jordanians. Their exact crimes were also not reported. At least 132 people have been executed in the kingdom so far this year, which is more than the last two years combined.

Singapore

On Thursday, December 1, 2022, 50-year-old Roszaidi Osman had his death sentence overturned by the Court of Appeal in Singapore. Osman was sentenced to death for drug trafficking, however, the majority of the court found that his major depressive disorder and substance use disorder had substantially impaired his responsibility for the crime. Osman began using drugs when he was 10 years of age. He is now sentenced to life in prison.

United States of America

On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, Kevin Johnson was executed in Missouri. He was 37 years of age. Kevin was convicted of murdering Police Sergeant William McEntee on July 5, 2005, in Kirkwood, Missouri.

Kay Ivey, governor of Alabama is seeking to pause executions in the state after three failed attempts at lethal injection since 2018, with three separate inmates. Governor Ivey has asked that the Department of Corrections completely review the execution process in Alabama. Reports from after the attempted executions indicate that technicians struggled to establish necessary IV lines. While Alabama did successfully carry out an execution in July, there was a delay of about three hours due in part to difficulty establishing the IV lines. Governor Ivey has also requested that no new execution dates be set until after the review is completed.

In September, the Alabama execution of Alan Miller was called off after technicians failed to establish the necessary IV lines. Now, Alabama has agreed to not attempt to execute Miller again using lethal injection. If Alabama attempts to execute Miller again, it will be by nitrogen hypoxia. While nitrogen hypoxia is approved in Alabama, there is no protocol in place to use it, nor does the state have supplies to carry out elections in that manner. Miller was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering 32-year-old Lee Holdbrooks, 28-year-old Christopher Scott Yancy, and 39-year-old Terry Jarvis on August 5, 1999, in Pelham, Alabama. 

A new trial has been granted to death row inmate Douglas Carter in Utah. In 1985, Carter, a black man, was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering Eva Oleson, a white woman who was also the aunt of the Provo City Police Department police chief. No evidence linked Carter to the crime, however, there was eyewitness testimony. Since then, it has been discovered that the two eyewitnesses were in the country illegally and that the police threatened to deport them if they did not do as the police instructed. The police also gave them gifts, including money, for their testimony and coached them on what to say in court. In addition, it was discovered that information was knowingly withheld evidence and knowledge during the trial.

After spending over 36 years on Ohio’s death row, John Grant Gillard died on death row. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitations and Correction confirmed his death but did not provide any details regarding his case of death. Gillard did not have a scheduled execution date. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Denise Maxwell and Leroy Ensign during a party on December 31, 1984. He also attempted to murder a third person.

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