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Death penalty for drug crimes in Asia: an illegal practice reveals report published on World Day by FIDH and the World Coalition

In Asia, death penalty for drug offences is one of the major issues. During the regional congress, two sessions addressed this issue. It is also the theme of this years’ World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October 2015.

So said Raphael Chenuil Hazan, director of ECPM, at the opening ceremony of the Asian Regional Congress in Kuala Lumpur.

Follow the Asia Regional Congress against the Death Penalty organised by ECPM in partnership with ADPAN on 11-12 June 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The next general assembly of the World Coalition will take place on Saturday 13 June 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, following the Regional Congress against the Death Penalty organised by ECPM in partnership with ADPAN on 11-12 June 2015.

In an open letter, the World Coalition and its members, including KONTRAS and Amnesty International, condemn the Indonesian government’s politicizing of the death penalty to show its commitment to eradicating drug-related crimes. Recent resumptions of executions show one thing, they are carried out for political reasons only: in Pakistan to show that it is tough on terrorism, Jordan that it tough on crime and Indonesia that it is tough on drugs. Instead, those states should abolish the death penalty to show their commitment to upholding human rights. The next World Day against the Death Penalty will be dedicated to the issue of capital drug crimes.

The World Coalition and its members have criticised decisions by the governments of Jordan and Pakistan to reverse their policy of suspending executions despite a historic vote in favour of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty at the UN General Assembly.

The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, a coalition hosted by Amnesty International in London since 2006, has become an independent organisation registered in Malaysia and held its first AGM in Taipei, Taiwan on 4-5 December.

World Coalition member, Community of Sant’Egidio, has organised anti-death penalty conferences in Japan and the Philippines, both of which were overwhelmingly attended. Further conferences in the region are set to continue.

With the recent execution of five prisoners in Taiwan, World Coalition member organisation, Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP), is feeling a sense of déjà vu.