The minutes of the December meeting are available thanks to group member Lesley for preparing them. We discussed the recent activities we have been engaged in together with future events such as carol singing on Tuesday night.
Death penalty report: Nov – Dec
We are pleased to attach our latest monthly death penalty report compiled by group member Lesley. In addition to matters around the world, we mention worries about the Conservative 
government, if, as expected, they assume power on Friday after the election. The present Home Secretary, Priti Patel is committed to toughening sentencing and has said she wishes to see the reintroduction of the penalty in the UK. She denies that this is the case. We quote survey statistics to show that it is still a desired outcome for many people, especially for those who voted leave in the EU Referendum.
Note as ever that China is the world’s largest executioner of its citizens but the data is a state secret.
Sportswash
Use of sport to promote interests of unsavoury regimes on the rise
The latest example is the heavyweight fight in Saudi Arabia involving Anthony Joshua. The fight was approved by the WBA, the World Boxing Organisation and International Boxing Federation.
Readers of this site need no introduction into the unpleasantness of the Saudi Regime. Its activities in Yemen we have featured many times on these pages. With British and American support
and armaments, it has carried out a bombing campaign in that country with little regard to international human rights law. Schools, hospitals, wedding ceremonies and civilian areas generally have been bombed sometimes using what is called ‘double tap’ that is, going in for a second time when the aid workers arrive causing extra mayhem.
Human rights are low on the agenda with floggings, torture, amputations and executions the norm. There have been 148 executions so far this year. Women’s rights activists, lawyers and members of the Shia minority have all been targeted. But never mind, there’s money to be made in them there dunes so lets go for it.
There has been a wide range of criticism of the boxer himself and the promoters, Matchroom Sport for taking the Saudi shilling for this event thus taking part in an attempt to sanitise the regime. They denied the charge that they were sportswashing.
Never mind the stonings, public executions, or human rights, Eddie Hearn is more than happy to follow the money
Daily Telegraph, 16 August (Eddie Hearn is Joshua’s promoter)
What does Anthony Joshua himself say? He is reported not to have known who Amnesty International was saying in a BBC interview that he spent most of his time in Finchley training.
I appreciate them [Amnesty] voicing an opinion. And it’s good to talk about issues in the world. But I’m there to fight. If I want to put on my cape where I’m going to save the world, we all have to do it together. The questions and the things that are happening in the world in general can’t be left to one man to solve. We all have to make a difference.”
I’ve actually been to Saudi Arabia and I’m building a relationship, Some of the questions that the world has to ask, maybe I could be a spokesman? It’s a blessing and they can speak back. And that’s relationship building, rather than just accusing, pointing fingers and shouting from Great Britain. In order to ask questions, and people that may want to make change, you have to go and get involved. Daily Telegraph 6 September 2019
Matchroom’s site makes only scant mention of the human rights aspect. “We are an independent company of passionate individuals” it tells us on its site: presumably the passion is confined to sport.
Of course, Joshua is not the first and certainly not the last to be involved in the process of sportwashing regimes such as Saudi Arabia. His ‘crime’ of agreeing to fight in the kingdom does not compare with the UK government’s support and agreeing to the supply of arms to this regime over many years. Members of the Royal Family have been happy to get engaged with a fellow royal family.
The difference is that this fight will have been seen by millions hence the purse of £40 million that Joshua will earn (there are other higher figures). Those millions of viewers are likely to be left with an impression that it is all right to engage with such a regime. But they have been willing stooges in the process of trying to sanitise them and its attempts to make a comeback after the murder of Khashoggi.
Sport has had its fair share of scandals. Doping, cheating, bribery: a seemingly endless stream of less than salubrious behaviour. FIFA and the Olympics are replete with corruption. To many, Joshua is a hero and on the sporting front he no doubt is. But as a hero he has a responsibility, as do those behind him, to recognise the influence he has on followers. Some day, the sporting fraternity are going to have to recognise the role they play in shaping people’s – particularly young people’s – minds and the influence they have. And that may mean saying ‘no’ to performing in a country where women have few rights and are imprisoned for seeking them, where torture is a way of life, and hacking off heads and limbs part of the legal system. Good way to earn £40 million.
Last word to Matchroom:
We got criticized for coming here but these people have been amazing. The vision they have for boxing in this region is incredible and they delivered. [Accessed 8 December]
Sources: Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Amnesty
November minutes
We are pleased to post our minutes of the November meeting which discusses the things we have done recently and forthcoming activities. If you are interested in joining the group, then the events list at the end is a good place to start. You would be very welcome to come along and make yourself known.
November meeting minutes (Word)
Death penalty in Egypt
This is a post from Reprieve concerning the death penalty in Egypt
Children are still being tried
Four years ago, the Egyptian Government committed – on the world stage – to end the death penalty for children. But, despite this commitment, a loophole in Egypt’s Child Law continues to allow children to be tried alongside adults on capital offences. Children in Egypt remain at risk of the death penalty. That’s why some of my team are in Geneva this week.
My colleagues working against the death penalty in Egypt are at a United Nations event this week. Our aim is to make sure other countries like the UK hold Egypt to account on its failed promise from four years ago. We’re doing this in the lead up to Egypt’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN on November 13th.
That means we only have a few weeks to make the case to every other country that Egypt needs to be held accountable for its failure to close the loophole and protect the human rights of children. The more countries that speak up and put pressure on Egypt, the more likely they are to close the loophole.
In turn, UK officials are more likely to step up if they see that this is something UK citizens care about. That’s why we need your help in spreading this campaign, getting more signatures, and gathering as much support as possible for ending the death penalty for children for good.
Please could you add your support.
Alternatively go to supporters@reprieve.org.uk
Justice denied for Kris Maharaj
Briton now has to wait until January for his release
In a recent post we described the situation Kris Maharaj has experienced in Florida USA where he has been imprisoned for 33 years for a crime he did not commit. There was to be a hearing on 17th of this month but we have just heard from Reprieve that this has been put back until January. The message from Reprieve is copied below:
Justice delayed is justice denied.
Since you wrote your message of support to Kris Maharaj and his wife Marita, I’m sorry to say there has been a frustrating development. Kris’ chance at justice was set for October 17th – but yesterday we heard it will not even happen this year.
That’s because the Florida Department of Corrections immediately sought and was granted a 90-day extension until January 18th 2020. 90 days may not sound like a lot, but Kris and his wife Marita have already been waiting 33 years for this nightmare to end.
Any delay is an injustice – and this will take us almost to Kris’ 81st birthday. We need to make sure they do not lose hope.
Can you share this latest instalment of injustice with your friends and family and ask them to add their own words of support? Here’s a suggested message you can send them:
Kris is a British man who was charged with a murder he could not have committed. Yet he remains in a Florida prison. His chance at justice has again been delayed, this time for another 90 days. Add your words of support to Kris and his wife Marita as they endure the latest instalment of their ordeal: https://act.reprieve.org.uk/page/s/send-a-message-of-support-to-kris-and-marita
Or, you can share this story on Facebook or WhatsApp using the below buttons.
World Day Against the Death Penalty
The death penalty in Saudi Arabia: Salisbury group action
Thursday 10th October 2019 will be the 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty so we are writing to invite you to take part in our Group Action.
This year we are focusing on the practice of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. A report by Baroness Kennedy, presented to the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, has highlighted the ‘alarming’ rise in state executions, including crucifixions. It states that more than 134 people have been executed this year, with at least 24 more prisoners at imminent risk, including three children.
We are asking supporters to write to John Glen MP on 10th October, drawing his attention to the report, and calling on him to make representations to the Government to support its recommendations and to condemn Saudi Arabia’s use of the death penalty.
I have attached a copy of a suggested letter to Mr Glen (the member of parliament for Salisbury), which you are welcome to use, or to adapt into your own words. The letter contains a link to Baroness Kennedy’s report.
If you are able to help, many thanks.
Briton to get chance of release from prison after 33 years
UPDATE: Reprieve have sent through a request to send a message of support to Kris and this can be accessed here. (24 September 2019)
We report – via Reprieve – the good news that a Briton held for 33 years in Florida, has gained the chance of release about 4 years after it was proved he was innocent. We have received an email from them which is reproduced in full below:
I’ve [Clive Stafford Smith] just had some incredibly exciting news on the case of Kris Maharaj, the Brit who has already spent 33 unjust years in Florida’s prison system for a murder he did not commit. Kris will finally have an evidentiary hearing on October 17th. The meaning of that might not be initially obvious, but I assure you it’s a very significant development. It’s one I have been pushing for, for a long time. It means that Kris finally has the chance to prove in a US federal court that he should not have been deprived of his liberty for more than three decades, let alone have been sentenced to death.
I’ve been involved in more than 400 capital cases over the years, and Kris’ is the greatest injustice of them all. Evidence uncovered in 2014 proved beyond doubt that Kris is not guilty of the murders for which he has been imprisoned. The state trial court nevertheless refused to order a new trial at the time. That’s why I’ve been pushing for a Federal evidentiary hearing.
When I took on this case back in 1993, I had no grey hairs. Twenty-six years on, you’d be hard pushed to find a hair on my head that isn’t grey or white – and a fair number of them have been caused by the traumas of Kris’ case. But just imagine the impact of the last 33 years on Kris and his wife Marita. It is hard to believe that we could get justice after all the crushing disappointments we’ve been through over the years, but perhaps – just perhaps – Kris will finally come home for his first Christmas in more than three decades.
The possibility of justice would never have arisen were it not for the kindness of all his supporters. Both Kris and Marita have said their hope wouldn’t have lasted this long without the support they get from the Reprieve community.It’s going to be a busy month ahead as I prepare for this hearing, but the Campaigns team at Reprieve will be in touch to update you in the run-up to the 17th October. Thank you, as always, for your support of Reprieve so we can help many people like Kris and Marita.
We reviewed on these pages, a book, Injustice, on this case by Stafford Smith making the point how unsound the American system is. So Kris is likely to walk free but it is important to bear in mind that he might have been executed by now. The book goes into remorseless detail about the inadequacies of the American trial system. We are conditioned by Hollywood films and TV about how heroic it is but for the poor, the system is rotten. The police do not have to release evidence to the defence (defense) which helps the defendant, a situation which happened in the UK before PACE was passed.
This is an uplifting story but tragically, he has had to spend over 3 decades in gaol for a crime he did not commit.
A search of his name comes up with a photograph of him with the caption ‘Kris Maharaj, murderer’.
Piece by the Sun newspaper on this case.
Group meeting minutes
The minutes of the September meeting are now available thanks to group member Lesley for compiling them. A full meeting with a number of future events in hand.
August – September death penalty report
The latest death penalty report is now available thanks to group member Lesley for compiling it. It contains information on death penalty matters in Bangladesh, Turkey, USA and other countries. The report, as ever, is unable to include any information about China where details of executions are a state secret. It is believed to be the world’s largest executioner.
August – September Report 2019
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 