Taliban kills for the sake of killing Tags: Society, Afghanistan, Commentary, World Andrei Ptashnikov Aug 10, 2010 16:55 Moscow Time Afghanistan. Flickr.com/machina/cc-by-nc Reports from Kabul give more details of the savage killing by Taliban of foreign doctors engaged in charity work in Afghanistan. The first news about the crime came during last weekend. Bodies of ten people were found in one... [more]
Iran set to execute 18-year-old on false charge of sodomy
The client of human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei has been sentenced to death in spite of retracted testimony
Lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei fled into exile after his wife was arrested in Iran two weeks ago.
An 18-year-old Iranian is facing imminent execution on charges of homosexuality, even though he has no legal representation. Ebrahim Hamidi, who is not gay, was sentenced to death for lavat, or sodomy, on the basis of "judge's knowledge", a legal loophole that allows for subjective judicial rulings where there is no conclusive evidence.
Hamidi had been represented by human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, who has since been forced to flee Iran after bringing to international attention the case of another of his clients, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old Iranian mother of two who has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Mostafaei was due to arrive in Norway yesterday to begin a life in exile while continuing his campaigns on behalf of his clients, including Hamidi.
At the same time, human rights activist Peter Tatchell has written to the foreign secretary, William Hague, urging him to contact the chief justice of Iran and ask that the execution be halted.
"Ebrahim's case is evidence that innocent heterosexual people can be sentenced to death on false charges of homosexuality [in Iran]," said Tatchell, co-founder of the London-based gay rights group OutRage.
Hamidi was arrested two years ago in the suburbs of the western city of Tabriz in the East Azerbaijan province after a fight with members of another family. Three of his friends were also involved in the incident and were subsequently arrested. Later, the four were accused of homosexual assault on a man and of attempting to abuse him sexually.
A person convicted of homosexuality in Iran can be lashed, hanged or stoned to death. The law includes a variety of penalties for different acts: 99 lashes if two unrelated males sleep "unnecessarily" under the same blanket – even without any sexual contact. A boy raped by an adult man would also be lashed if the court decided that he had "enjoyed" the experience.
After three days in detention, Hamidi confessed to the crime, allegedly under torture. The other three were cleared of all charges when promised by officials that they would be freed if they testified against Hamidi.
However, last month Hamidi's alleged victim admitted that he had been under pressure from his parents to make false accusations. Nevertheless the local judiciary has insisted that Hamidi should be executed.
Mostafaei initially wrote an open letter about Hamidi's case to highlight the execution of juvenile offenders. But two weeks ago Mostafaei's wife, Fereshteh Halimi, was arrested and had been kept in solitary confinement in Tehran's notorious Evin prison without charge until late last night, when the Observer understood that she was released.
Mostafaei fled to Turkey, where he was promptly arrested for entering the country illegally. On Friday, however, the Turkish authorities released him after EU diplomats intervened on his behalf. As he left, Mostafaei had repeated his fears for his wife's safety. "They've taken her in as a hostage; it's kidnapping," he told the Observer. "Just look at what is happening to my wife and realise the flaws and failings of the Iranian legal system, especially towards Ebrahim Hamidi and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who are awaiting execution on basis of false accusations," he added.
Mostafaei, whose office in Tehran is now sealed off, is credited with saving at least 50 people from execution during his career, among them many juvenile offenders. A recent client, Ali Mahin-Torabi, 21, was released in July after Mostafaei's efforts commuted his death sentence. With Mostafaei exiled, activists are worried for Hamidi. "It's shocking that although Hamidi's accuser admitted in a recorded testimony that he had lied, he is still facing execution," Mostafaei said.
An online petition calling for the execution order to be rescinded was launched on 8 August.
• This article was amended on 10 August 2010 to include the petition link.
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Response by reallypissed
over 15 years ago
Posts: 85
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Murders, rapes on increase in Delhi this year
The Delhi police might have raised its strength by over 22,000 men since 2007, but it appears to have done little to help check crime with the capital registering more murders and rapes in the first half of this year compared to the same period during previous three years.
According to official statistics, the capital has registered 274 cases of murders in the first six months of this year compared to 254 during the same period last year and 259 in 2008. The corresponding figure for 2007 is 215.
Similarly, rape cases also have increased during the period with 277 cases being reported as against last year's 237. In 2008, the figure was 258 though 2007 recorded the highest of 297.
The Delhi police has a total of around 80,000 personnel in its force with 22,160 being added in the past three years.
Cases of dacoity, kidnapping for ransom and robbery also registered an increase during the same period compared to the previous years. While 318 robbery cases were registered this year till June 30, there were only 258 cases last year during the same period. 262 cases were recorded in 2008 and 264 in 2007.
However, senior police officials said that there was no spurt in crime. They even claimed that the rate of crime is the lowest in the last 40 years.
"There is no spurt in crime. We have the lowest crime rate. The population has increased and so the number of crimes. If you take the crime per one lakh population, it is only 281.05 this year," a senior police official said.
"The crime per one lakh population is the yardstick followed world-wideand it has come down from 286.32 in 2008 to 283.50 last year," he said.
A total of 28,270 criminal cases were registered this year so far with motor vehicle thefts topping the list followed by 3,317 theft cases.
The official said the involvement of first timers in crimes is increasing.
Out of the 483 people arrested on charges of murder this year, 449 or 93% of them were first timers. Similarly out of the 346 arrested for rape, 343 were first timers. 737 out of 807 people arrested for snatching were first timers, the official said.
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Response by bronxboy
over 15 years ago
Posts: 446
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So now the Taliban is going house hunting in NYC? Okay, so I see it's relevance to this site.
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Iran set to execute 18-year-old on false charge of sodomy
The client of human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei has been sentenced to death in spite of retracted testimony
Lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei fled into exile after his wife was arrested in Iran two weeks ago.
An 18-year-old Iranian is facing imminent execution on charges of homosexuality, even though he has no legal representation. Ebrahim Hamidi, who is not gay, was sentenced to death for lavat, or sodomy, on the basis of "judge's knowledge", a legal loophole that allows for subjective judicial rulings where there is no conclusive evidence.
Hamidi had been represented by human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, who has since been forced to flee Iran after bringing to international attention the case of another of his clients, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old Iranian mother of two who has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Mostafaei was due to arrive in Norway yesterday to begin a life in exile while continuing his campaigns on behalf of his clients, including Hamidi.
At the same time, human rights activist Peter Tatchell has written to the foreign secretary, William Hague, urging him to contact the chief justice of Iran and ask that the execution be halted.
"Ebrahim's case is evidence that innocent heterosexual people can be sentenced to death on false charges of homosexuality [in Iran]," said Tatchell, co-founder of the London-based gay rights group OutRage.
Hamidi was arrested two years ago in the suburbs of the western city of Tabriz in the East Azerbaijan province after a fight with members of another family. Three of his friends were also involved in the incident and were subsequently arrested. Later, the four were accused of homosexual assault on a man and of attempting to abuse him sexually.
A person convicted of homosexuality in Iran can be lashed, hanged or stoned to death. The law includes a variety of penalties for different acts: 99 lashes if two unrelated males sleep "unnecessarily" under the same blanket – even without any sexual contact. A boy raped by an adult man would also be lashed if the court decided that he had "enjoyed" the experience.
After three days in detention, Hamidi confessed to the crime, allegedly under torture. The other three were cleared of all charges when promised by officials that they would be freed if they testified against Hamidi.
However, last month Hamidi's alleged victim admitted that he had been under pressure from his parents to make false accusations. Nevertheless the local judiciary has insisted that Hamidi should be executed.
Mostafaei initially wrote an open letter about Hamidi's case to highlight the execution of juvenile offenders. But two weeks ago Mostafaei's wife, Fereshteh Halimi, was arrested and had been kept in solitary confinement in Tehran's notorious Evin prison without charge until late last night, when the Observer understood that she was released.
Mostafaei fled to Turkey, where he was promptly arrested for entering the country illegally. On Friday, however, the Turkish authorities released him after EU diplomats intervened on his behalf. As he left, Mostafaei had repeated his fears for his wife's safety. "They've taken her in as a hostage; it's kidnapping," he told the Observer. "Just look at what is happening to my wife and realise the flaws and failings of the Iranian legal system, especially towards Ebrahim Hamidi and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who are awaiting execution on basis of false accusations," he added.
Mostafaei, whose office in Tehran is now sealed off, is credited with saving at least 50 people from execution during his career, among them many juvenile offenders. A recent client, Ali Mahin-Torabi, 21, was released in July after Mostafaei's efforts commuted his death sentence. With Mostafaei exiled, activists are worried for Hamidi. "It's shocking that although Hamidi's accuser admitted in a recorded testimony that he had lied, he is still facing execution," Mostafaei said.
An online petition calling for the execution order to be rescinded was launched on 8 August.
• This article was amended on 10 August 2010 to include the petition link.
Murders, rapes on increase in Delhi this year
The Delhi police might have raised its strength by over 22,000 men since 2007, but it appears to have done little to help check crime with the capital registering more murders and rapes in the first half of this year compared to the same period during previous three years.
According to official statistics, the capital has registered 274 cases of murders in the first six months of this year compared to 254 during the same period last year and 259 in 2008. The corresponding figure for 2007 is 215.
Similarly, rape cases also have increased during the period with 277 cases being reported as against last year's 237. In 2008, the figure was 258 though 2007 recorded the highest of 297.
The Delhi police has a total of around 80,000 personnel in its force with 22,160 being added in the past three years.
Cases of dacoity, kidnapping for ransom and robbery also registered an increase during the same period compared to the previous years. While 318 robbery cases were registered this year till June 30, there were only 258 cases last year during the same period. 262 cases were recorded in 2008 and 264 in 2007.
However, senior police officials said that there was no spurt in crime. They even claimed that the rate of crime is the lowest in the last 40 years.
"There is no spurt in crime. We have the lowest crime rate. The population has increased and so the number of crimes. If you take the crime per one lakh population, it is only 281.05 this year," a senior police official said.
"The crime per one lakh population is the yardstick followed world-wideand it has come down from 286.32 in 2008 to 283.50 last year," he said.
A total of 28,270 criminal cases were registered this year so far with motor vehicle thefts topping the list followed by 3,317 theft cases.
The official said the involvement of first timers in crimes is increasing.
Out of the 483 people arrested on charges of murder this year, 449 or 93% of them were first timers. Similarly out of the 346 arrested for rape, 343 were first timers. 737 out of 807 people arrested for snatching were first timers, the official said.
Riversider?
No
So now the Taliban is going house hunting in NYC? Okay, so I see it's relevance to this site.