International Death Penalty News 2024, Issue 16: China, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, United States of America

China

A new state documentary has revealed that Huang Yu, a Chinese scientist, was executed in 2016 on espionage charges. Huang was a researcher on a top-secret communication systems development project. He was later removed from the project due to his poor work performance. There were also indications that he wanted to defect. He was found to have sent another country’s intelligence agency a note that contained classified military codes. He continued to pass along classified information, even convincing his wife to copy confidential material, which he then passed along.

Iran

On Sunday, March 17, 2024, 34-year-old Asghar Tabarzin was executed in Tabriz Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is retribution in kind. Asghar was arrested three years ago after getting into a fight with his site manager that resulted in the death of the site manager. Under Iranian law, all those charged with killing another person are charged with “intentional murder.” Upon conviction, they are sentenced to qisas, that is retribution in kind, after which the family of the victim chooses between death, granting forgiveness, or demanding diya (blood money). State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, April 7, 2024, 27-year-old Alireza Marzban was executed in Shiraz Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. The murder occurred during a group fight and while Marzban does not deny participating in the fight, he insists that he did not kill anyone. Allegedly, Marzban was executed without being given the opportunity to have a final visit with his family. Marzban was previously scheduled to be executed, however, he was granted an extension to allow time to come up with the diya (blood money) demanded by the family of the victim, resulting in his execution. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered “intentional murder.” Once convicted the family of the victim chooses if the inmate is sentenced to death, granted forgiveness, or demands diya. Mitigating evidence is also rarely considered. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, April 11, 2024, 29-year-old Esmail Hassaniani and 19-year-old Marjan Hajizadeh were executed in Zanjan Central prison. The married couple was convicted in a joint case on drug-related charges. Marjan, whose father was poor, was forced into marrying Esmail when she was 16 years of age. They were arrested a short time later and Marjan claimed she did not know that Esmail had drugs. Marjan is the fourth woman executed so far this year and the first woman executed on drug-related charges in 10 years. Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, April 13, 2024, 30-year-old Abuzar Salem was executed in Isfahan Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind, about three years ago. Under Iranian law, all those charged with killing another person are charged with “intentional murder.” Upon conviction, they are sentenced to qisas, that is retribution in kind, after which the family of the victim chooses between death, granting forgiveness, or demanding diya (blood money). Salem’s execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, April 13, 2024, 37-year-old Afshin Bagh Shirin was executed at Urmia Central Prison. He was arrested about six years ago. Afshin was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, April 14, 2024, 31-year-old Arsalan Hashemi was executed at Hamedan Central Prison. Arsalan was arrested about four years. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Japan

Death row inmates in Japan have been arguing in court that Japan’s practice of notifying inmates of their pending execution the same day the execution is to occur is unconditional. Now, the Osaka District Court has ruled against the inmates. The inmates plan to appeal this ruling to a higher court. Inmates are often only notified of their pending executions an hour or two before the execution takes place. The inmates were arguing that this short notice prevents them from filing an appeal or complaint, which violates their right to due process guaranteed in the Constitution. Japanese prison officials insist the policy is in place to prevent inmates from taking their own lives between being told of their pending execution and the execution taking place. There are currently 109 death row inmates in Japan.

Malaysia

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the Federal Court commuted the death sentences of 54 death row inmates. Each inmate convicted on drug-related charges has had their sentence reduced to 30 years in prison, while those convicted of murder had their sentences reduced to between 35 and 38 years in prison.

As part of the 54 inmates who had their death sentences reduced, 36-year-old Khairul Izani Khairuddin had his death sentence reduced to 35 years in prison. Khairuddin was convicted of murdering his three-year-old stepson Muhammad Qairil Aqmal Abdul Hakim during the late morning hours of November 8, 2018. Khairuddin was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on August 26, 2022. In addition to the prison sentence, to be counted from the date of his arrest on November 12, 2018, Khairuddin will also be given 12 strokes of the cane.

As part of the 54 inmates who had their death sentences reduced, 43-year-old Zulhisham Fadly Mohamad had his death sentence reduced to 38 years in prison and 12 lashes. Mohamad was convicted and initially sentenced to death for the murder of 55-year-old Zaiton Muhamad in a dragon fruit orchard in 2008. Mohamad also attempted to bury Zaiton’s body.

Morocco

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Achraf R., also referred to as Ould Lefchouch (‘spoiled child’), was sentenced to death for murdering 23-year-old doctoral student at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) in Mohammedia, Badr Bouljoihel. Badr had gotten into a fight with Achraf at a fast-food restaurant. The fight escalated to the parking lot where Achraf drove his car over Badr. Badr died from his injuries. Achraf was sentenced to death while two others involved in the incident received varying prison terms. A third person who helped Achraf escape also received a small prison sentence. The last execution in Morocco occurred in 1993.

United States of America

On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, Archie Dixon was scheduled to be executed in Ohio. His execution has been rescheduled to June 16, 2027. Fifty-year-old Archie is convicted of murdering 22-year-old Christopher Hammer in Toledo, Ohio, on September 22, 1993.

A House committee in Alabama has rejected advancing a bill that would have allowed some death row inmates to be resentenced. The proposed bill would have required that death row inmates who had judges who overrode the jury’s recommendation of life in prison be resentenced. Over 30 death row inmates in the state would have had their death sentences reevaluated. The practice of allowing a judge to override a jury’s recommendation and hand out a harsher sentence was outlawed in 2017.

In February, lawmakers in Louisiana passed a bill that permitted the use of nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method. It was signed by the Governor in March and is expected to take effect on July 1. However, some lawmakers are trying to undo that. A bill has been introduced in the Louisiana Senate that would ban execution by nitrogen hypoxia. One group supporting the new bill banning nitrogen hypoxia is a member of the Jewish Federation of the Greater New Orleans. He noted the similarities between gas executions and executions carried out by Nazi Germany. So far, only one state, Alabama, has carried out an execution using nitrogen hypoxia.