poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- Messages
- 11,543
Malaysia death penalty change welcomed
Amnesty International has welcomed a Malaysian proposal to abolish the death penalty for drug trafficking but called on it to remove capital punishment for all offences.
Law minister Nazri Aziz was reported by Malaysian media last week to have said the government may replace the death penalty for drug offenders with a prison term, which would entail reprieves for hundreds now on death row.
"Amnesty International welcomes this proposal and hopes that it will lead to the quick abolition of the death penalty for drug offences," the global rights group said in a statement.
"The government should immediately extend a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty for all crimes."
It noted that Malaysia applies the death sentence to a wide range of offences from treason to assisting in suicide.
The penalty is mandatory in murder and drug trafficking cases.
"Mandatory death sentences prevent judges from exercising their discretion and from considering all factors in a case...contrary to international human rights standards," Amnesty said.
Amnesty's statement adds to growing pressure from Malaysian NGOs and opposition politicians to repeal the death penalty.
According to Nazri, about 900 are on death row, mostly for drug offences.
Since 1960 more than 440 people have been executed, including two Australians whose 1986 hanging for heroin trafficking made headlines as the first Westerners executed under toughened new anti-drug laws.
An Australian nurse was charged in July in Malaysia with drug trafficking.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-25/an-malaysia-loosens-capital-punishment-laws/4334294
Amnesty International has welcomed a Malaysian proposal to abolish the death penalty for drug trafficking but called on it to remove capital punishment for all offences.
Law minister Nazri Aziz was reported by Malaysian media last week to have said the government may replace the death penalty for drug offenders with a prison term, which would entail reprieves for hundreds now on death row.
"Amnesty International welcomes this proposal and hopes that it will lead to the quick abolition of the death penalty for drug offences," the global rights group said in a statement.
"The government should immediately extend a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty for all crimes."
It noted that Malaysia applies the death sentence to a wide range of offences from treason to assisting in suicide.
The penalty is mandatory in murder and drug trafficking cases.
"Mandatory death sentences prevent judges from exercising their discretion and from considering all factors in a case...contrary to international human rights standards," Amnesty said.
Amnesty's statement adds to growing pressure from Malaysian NGOs and opposition politicians to repeal the death penalty.
According to Nazri, about 900 are on death row, mostly for drug offences.
Since 1960 more than 440 people have been executed, including two Australians whose 1986 hanging for heroin trafficking made headlines as the first Westerners executed under toughened new anti-drug laws.
An Australian nurse was charged in July in Malaysia with drug trafficking.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-25/an-malaysia-loosens-capital-punishment-laws/4334294
