International Death Penalty News 2024, Issue 27: Albania, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Japan, Pakistan Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United States of America

Albania/China

The judicial authorities in China have been asked by the government of Albania to not sentence to death a 36-year-old Albanian national. The man was arrested along with 17 others of varying ethnic backgrounds, on drug-related charges. China is pursuing capital charges against at least five of the 17, indulging the Albanian. China has strict anti-drugs laws and is believed to be the top executioner in the world. However, many of their executions are carried out in secret and the government does not release official reports with the number of executions carried out each year. The Albanian government has stated that this is a priority case for them and will continue to pursue it.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Twenty-five soldiers have been sentenced to death after being convicted of fleeing while battling M23 rebels in the country. The soldiers were tried by a military tribunal. They were also accused and convicted of stealing goods from the nearby village. In March of this year, the government lifted a 20-year moratorium against capital punishment, intending to remove “traitors” from the militia. At least some of the soldiers are planning to appeal their sentences.

Iran

On Monday, June 30, 2024, four men were executed in Mashhad Central Prison. The executions were carried out in secret and have not yet been reported by state officials or the media. Two of the men were identified by name, Yasser Ghafourian and 47-year-old Mohammad Houshiar Alizadeh, one of the men was identified only as an Afghan national, and the fourth man was identified as a Quchan native. All four men were convicted on drug-related charges. They were not allowed to have a final visit with their families before their executions.

On Thursday, July 4, 2024, a woman, Sharifeh Mohammadi, was sentenced to death. Sharifeh, a woman’s labor activist, was convicted on charges of rebellion. She was also linked to a banned Kurdish separatist organization. Several people who know Sharifeh deny that she was involved with the group.

Japan

On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, 39-year-old Shoichi Sato was sentenced to death by the Oita District Court. Sato is convicted of murdering 79-year-old Takako Yamana and her 51-year-old son Hiroyuki in her home in Oita Prefecture in southwestern Japan on February 2, 2020. DNA evidence linked Sato to the crime. After murdering Takako and Hiroyuki, Sata stole money from them and fled. He was arrested about a year and eight months after the murders.

Pakistan

An unnamed Christian man has been sentenced to death by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Sahiwal. He is convicted on blasphemy charges. Specifically, the man was accused of uploading pictures of torn pages from the Koran to social media. His sentence sparked international criticism. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws often come under international criticism, as allegations are often questionable, and have been used to attempt to settle personal disputes. Additionally, many international rights groups oppose the death penalty for blasphemy and call for abolishing the practice. While death sentences for blasphemy charges are not unusual in Pakistan, executions for such charges are extremely rare.

Saudi Arabia

The death sentence of Machilakath Abdul Rahim has been overturned by a criminal court in Riyadh. Rahim, an Indian national, has spent the last 18 years on death row after being convicted of murdering Anas Al Shahri, the disabled person he was hired to drive around. His sentence was overturned after an agreement was reached between the family of the victim and Rahim. The family is willing to offer Rahim fogginess for his crime, and spare him from execution, if paid a set sum of money, in a practice known as diya, that is, blood money. At least part of the money has already been given to the victim’s family. Following the payment, Rahim will be released from prison.

Sweden

On Thursday, July 4, 2024, the Foreign Ministry announced it would contest the death sentence given to three Swedes in Iraq. Over the last month, three Swedish men have been sentenced to death in Iraq. All were convicted on charges relating to a deadly shooting earlier in the year. It is also possible that a fourth man has been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, however, that information has not yet been confirmed. Sweden, which opposes all executions, is seeking to ensure that the death sentences are not carried out.

United States of America

State officials in Indiana have announced that they plan to resume executions in the state using pentobarbital. Since 1995, Indiana has used a three-drug execution protocol. While Indiana has never previously used pentobarbital in executions, it has been used by 14 other states and by the federal government in 2020. Interestingly, federal executions are carried out at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. Indiana has not stated how or from where they obtained the execution drug, nor have they announced when it expires. Indiana’s last execution was in 2009, after which, the state became unable to obtain execution drugs. Now, Indiana is seeking an execution date for Joseph Corcoran who was convicted of murdering four individuals in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1997.

Avantae Deven could be sentenced to death in North Carolina if she is convicted of murdering her two adoptive sons, Blake and London. The brothers had not been seen by anyone for years, however, Avantae never reported the boys missing. During a search of her home in April, police discovered human remains in a burn barrel on the property. Police first became aware of the case after receiving a phone call from the house in November 2023. The phone call came from a child who was attempting suicide. The child told police that they believed their brother Blake was dead and hadn’t been seen in about five years. Avantae had adopted two girls and another boy in addition to Blake and London. Eventually, police discovered that the children were tortured, starved, and isolated. Avantae has been charged with first-degree murder, concealment of death, kidnapping, and felony child abuse. If convicted, she could be sentenced to death.

Larry Roberts has become the 200th person to be exonerated and freed from death since 1973. Larry was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for killing a fellow prisoner at the California Medical Center in Vacaville, California in 1983. At the time, he was in prison for a previous murder. Two fellow prisoners were the only witnesses to the crime and testified against him in court. His conviction was overturned after it was found that prosecutors withheld and suppressed evidence favorable to the defense. At the time, his sentence was left in place. However, the California Attorney General’s Office has now stated that they will not attempt to retry Larry, granting his exoneration. Larry is now a free man.