International Death Penalty News 2024, Issue 39: India, Iran, Japan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, United States of America, Vietnam

India

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, hostel warden Yumken Bagra was sentenced to death. He was convicted of sexually assaulting 21 students at a government-run residential school between 2014 and 2022. Additionally, former headmaster Singtung Yorpen and Hindi teacher Marbom Ngomdir were each sentenced to 20 years for failing to report the abuse. Some students had reported the abuse, however, Yorpen asked them to not report it to protect the reputation of the school. The abuse was first reported in 2022, after a man filed a complaint for sexual assault against his twin 12-year-old girls.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of Shivkumar Saket, an ex-watchman who had been convicted of murdering his employers in 2007. Instead, the man will now serve a life sentence. The man was initially sentenced to life in prison by a trial court, however, the Bombay High Court later imposed a death sentence. The Supreme Court has now found that the High Court did have the authority to change the sentence.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Ashok Shaw was sentenced to death for raping and murdering a seven-year-old girl in March 2023. Shaw lured the daughter of his neighbor into his apartment with chocolates. He then smashed her head with a hammer. Her body was later discovered in his kitchen. The crime was discovered when police performed a search of the apartment building after the girl failed to return home from buying milk.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Gurpreet Singh was sentenced to death by a special court. Singh was convicted of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl in February 2021. Singh kidnapped the girl, whose body was later found by police in his home. He confessed to the crime after his arrest.

Iran

For the last nine years, 36-year-old Abbas Karim has been on death row in Isfahan Central Prison. He has been convicted of murder and the family of the victim has demanded he pay almost $1.2 million. So far, his family has been unable to come up with money. It has now been announced that he will be executed on October 3, 2024, if the diya is not paid. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered “intentional murder,” with mitigating evidence rarely being considered.  After conviction, the family of the victim determines the sentence of the condemned, choosing between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or qisas.  Diya can be demanded, but if the amount is not raised within a certain time period, the convicted is executed. There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded. Abbas has two young children.

Branch 9 of the Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for Kurdish Turkey national, Hatem Özdemir. Hatem previously had his death sentence overturned due to legal flaws. He was arrested about three years ago when crossing the border and convicted of “baghy” or armed rebellion. Hatem’s lawyer has argued that he is innocent as evidence shows he did not use his weapon on the day of his arrest and that witness testimony came from people who were not present that day. Additionally, Hatem has not received assistance from the Turkish government.

On Sunday, September 15, 2024, 35-year-old Arastoo Safarghomi and 45-year-old Rasoul Pourmajed were executed in Tabriz Central Prison. Arastoo was arrested about two and a half years ago. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Rasoul, a former cafe owner, was arrested on separate murder charges. He was also sentenced to qisas. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered “intentional murder,” with mitigating evidence rarely being considered.  After conviction, the family of the victim determines the sentence of the condemned, choosing between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or qisas.  Diya can be demanded, but if the amount is not raised within a certain time period, the convicted is executed. There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials and the media.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, 33-year-old Abdoljalil Ehsani and 32-year-old Yahya Zargari were executed at Shiraz Central Prison. Both men were Baluch ethnic minorities. They were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, 33-year-old Alimorad Hassanzadeh was executed in Gorgan Central Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges about two years ago. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, 21-year-old Mehdi Jahanpour was executed in Shiraz Central Prison. Reports indicate that he was only 16 years of age at the time of the crime, meaning his execution is a violation of international law which forbids the execution of a person who was a minor when they committed a crime. Mehdi was convicted of murdering another man who was a rival for a girl’s affection. Mehdi is the first child offender to be executed this year. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered “intentional murder,” with mitigating evidence rarely being considered.  After conviction, the family of the victim determines the sentence of the condemned, choosing between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or qisas.  Diya can be demanded, but if the amount is not raised within a certain time period, the convicted is executed. There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, 33-year-old Alimorad Hassanzadeh was executed in Gorgan Central Prison. He was arrested and convicted on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, September 19, 2024, 35-year-old Morteza Shah Esmaili and 50-year-old Nasim Narouyi were executed in Yazd Central Prison. Both men were executed on drug-related charges. Nasim was also identified as a Baluch ethnic minority. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials or the media.

Japan

A court has ruled that 88-year-old former boxer Iwao Hakamada is not guilty of a 1966 quadruple murder. The acquittal office, during a retrial of the case, discovered that some evidence was fabricated to secure a conviction. Iwao was convicted in 1968 of murdering a company manager and his three family members before setting their home on fire. He spent 48 years in prison, most of them on death row. He was not executed due to a multitude of appeals. Iwao was released from prison in 2014 when his latest retrial was ordered due to new evidence. He was also weak at the time of release and determined to be a low flight risk. Retrials in Japan are extremely difficult to obtain and many are calling for a revision to the system.

Pakistan

Forty-year-old Shagufta Kiran has been sentenced to death. She has been convicted of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad. Shagufta proclaims to be a Christian in the Muslim-majority nation. Allegedly, Shagufta posted offensive posts on the social media platform WhatsApp, however, she claims that she did not write the offensive content but only forwarded it to a group chat. She has four children and was arrested on July 29, 2021. Her lawyer plans to appeal the ruling. Blasphemy charges are often used, especially against Christians, to settle personal disputes.

Saudi Arabia

A court has ordered that a retired teacher be sentenced to 30 years in jail for criticizing the government on social media. He was arrested in June 2022 and accused of posting critiques of the government, supporting jailed religious clerics, conspiracy against the Saudi leadership, undermining state institutions, and supporting terrorist ideology. He was initially sentenced to death. His death sentence was overturned about two months ago.

Singapore

Singaporean national, 31-year-old Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was arrested in Thailand and deported back to Singapore. He has been accused of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine in December 2020. At least two others were also arrested and received varying jail sentences. Benny went into hiding several years before his arrest. If convicted, Benny could be sentenced to death.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, three 19-year-olds were arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau. The two males and one female were arrested on drug charges. They were arrested with about $78,000 worth of drugs on them and in their apartments. They also had drug paraphernalia and large amounts of cash. While the investigation is ongoing, if convicted they could be sentenced to death.

A 22-year-old Indian national, Muhammad Sajid Saleem, could be sentenced to death after his arrest on Sunday, September 22, 2024. He is accused of murdering a 25-year-old Indian national during a fight. Five others were also arrested. They are charged with rioting and are not facing death sentences.

Taiwan

Following the ruling last week by the Supreme Court which found that the death penalty was only constitutional for “exceptional” cases, all 37 death row inmates who have completed their appeals are eligible to request a review of their cases. The extraordinary appeal would be based on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling. The ruling also prohibited the execution of inmates with mental conditions, which is a change from the previous law. All laws must be amended to follow the Supreme Court’s new guidelines within two years. While the inmates are eligible to petition, it will remain the discretion of the head prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to determine whether the appeals will be accepted. At least two inmates are expected to have their death sentences reversed as the reasoning for their sentences has been ruled unconstitutional.

United States of America

On Friday, September 20, 2024, Freddie Owens was executed in South Carolina. Freddie was 46 years of age. He was convicted of murdering 41-year-old Irene Grainger Graves on November 1, 1997, in Greenville, South Carolina. The murder occurred during the robbery of a convenience store.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Marcellus Williams was executed by the state of Missouri. Fifty-five-year-old Marcellus was executed for the murder of Felicia “Lisha” Gayle on August 11, 1998, in University City, Missouri. In the weeks and days leading up to his execution, there were several attempts to halt his execution.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Travis Mullis was executed by the state of Texas. Travis was convicted and executed for murdering his three-month-old son Alijah Mullis on January 29, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. Travis had asked that his appeals be stopped and his execution allowed to proceed.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Emmanuel Littlejohn was executed by the state of Oklahoma. Emmanuel was convicted of murdering Kenneth Meers on June 20, 1992, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The murder occurred during a robbery of a convenience store.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Alan Miller was executed in Alabama. Fifty-nine-year-old Alan is convicted of 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. All were Alan’s former coworkers.

Forty-three-year-old Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines could be sentenced to death if he is convicted of murdering 54-year-old Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins. Stines allegedly shot and killed Judge Mullins inside his chambers at Letcher County Courthouse on Thursday, September 19, 2024, following an argument. The two had eaten lunch together on the day of the shooting. Stines has pled not guilty.

A jury in Nebraska has found 44-year-old Jason Jones guilty of murdering four people in August 2022. Jones was convicted of murdering 53-year-old Michele Ebeling; 86-year-old Gene Twiford and his wife, 85-year-old Janet Twiford; and their daughter 55-year-old Dana Twiford in Laurel, Nebraska. The murders were a shock for the small town. After shooting the victims, he started fires at their homes. When Jones was arrested, he had severe burns that required hospitalization. His burn injuries prevented him from being present at his trial. During his trial, Jones’ attorneys did not dispute that he committed the murders but rather argued that he was experiencing a mental break. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Vietnam

Nguyen Hoang, a former chief accountant with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, has been sentenced to death for embezzlement. He is convicted of committing the theft between March 2009 and February 2023 and stole more than $6.2 million. Two others have also been arrested, charged, and convicted. They have received short jail terms for failing to act responsibly.