More than one thousand signatures collected
As a part of international solidarity campaign to abolish death penalty worldwide, Amnesty International Nepal organized a demonstration and signature collection program on 10 October, 2012 in Kathmandu expressing concern over the executions in Asia-Pacific region.
On the occasion, participants demonstrated various banners and placards with different slogans against death penalty. Similarly, leaflets with information on death penalty were also distributed.
On the occasion, AI Nepal strongly condemned the inhuman behave to a 43-year-old Iranian woman who is facing death sentence. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who was convicted in May 2006 of conducting an ‘illicit relationship outside marriage’. Sakineh already endured a sentence of 99 lashes, but her case was re-opened when a court in Tabriz Suspected her of murdering her husband. She was acquitted, but the adultery charge was reviewed and a death penalty handed down on the basis of ‘judge’s knowledge’ – a loophole that allows for subjective judicial rulings where no conclusive evidence is present.
Under Iranian Sharia law, the sentenced individual is buried up to the neck (or to the waist in the case of men), and those attending the public execution are called upon to throw stones. If the convicted person manages to free themselves from the hole, the death sentence is commuted.
Similarly, family members of Hari Bahadur Ghale, a Nepali migrant worker who is facing death sentence in Malaysia, also demonstrated with ple-cards and banner requesting all to save him. On the occasion, Hari Bahadur Ghale’s 83 years old grandfather Dhan Bahadur, daughter Jharna and Brother Tek Bahadur and other relatives took part. They also collected signatures from various walk of Nepalese life to send the embassy of Malaysia situated in Kathmandu. AI Nepal is continuously working with victim’s families and it was also one of the parts of the same.
Hari Bahadur Ghale is the permanent resident of Barsunchet-1, Nuwakot district of Nepal. He was serving a jail term in Malaysian prison. Recently, the Supreme Court of Kuala Lumpur has confirmed death sentence to him, who was fighting in a court of law against drug peddling charge since nine years.
AI Nepal members and supporters along with representatives from various civil society organizations participated in the peaceful demonstration which was organized to mark 10th International Day against Death Penalty. More than 150 people participated actively on the occasion. The program was held at New Baneshwar, Kathmandu centre of Nepali capital. Addressing to the demonstration Surya Bahadur Adhikari, Vice -Chairperson of AI Nepal shed light about the AI Campaign against the existing death penalty in world. Former Chairperson of AI Nepal Krishna Kandel, Treasurer Pratap Poudel, Director Rameshwar Nepal, Former Deputy Secretary General Rajan Kuinkel and others also actively took part on the occasion.
The World Coalition against the Death Penalty has been observing 10th October as the Day against Death Penalty since 2003. The Coalition was formed in 13 May 2002 in Rome of Italy according to the commitment made in the first World Conference against Death Penalty held in 2001. Amnesty International which has been working to abolish death penalty world wide since its establishment is also the member of the network.
The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state. This cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment is done in the name of justice. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner.
Similarly, various Groups and Youth Networks affiliated to AI Nepal informed that they organized different programs on the same occasion. Among them, Kathmandu University Youth Network, Dhulikhel organized a mass gathering to mark the Day against Death Penalty. Around 100 members gathered together and had a talk session among them self about the issue of death penalty.