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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

SAUDI ARABIA HARSHLY CRITICISED FOR EXECUTING 15YO BOY

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March 25, 2008: the international Human Rights Watch organisation harshly criticised Saudi Arabia's justice system in a report published in London.

In particular, the manner of dealing with minors, who have been sentenced to flogging or even to death, was cruel and contradicted the principles of the rule of law, the report said.

"In 2007, Saudi Arabia executed three juvenile offenders, including a 15-year-old boy who was only 13 at the time of the alleged crime," HRW said.

Saudi Arabia does not have a penal code and judges pass verdict based on their own interpretation of sharia law.

King Abdullah announced a reform of the justice system a few weeks ago which, among other things, would strengthen the right to appeal.

Sources: Monsters &Critics, Afp, 25/03/2008
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