Pubdate: Sun, 15 Sep 2013
Source: Observer, The (UK)
Copyright: 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited
Contact:  http://www.observer.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/315
Author: Jamie Doward

DRUGS DEATH PENALTY STATES 'MUST LOSE AID'

The government is under pressure to stop aid for anti-narcotics 
programmes in countries where drug traffickers are executed.

The UK leads the way in opposing the use of the death penalty around 
the world and the claims are potentially embarrassing. The government 
stopped funding Iran's anti-narcotics programme amid concerns that 
the money was helping to capture drugs mules who were then executed.

The human rights group Reprieve wrote to the deputy prime minister, 
Nick Clegg, requesting guidance on where the UK's foreign aid was 
going. The charity's research suggests that Britain is funding and 
training Pakistan's Anti Narcotics Force.

"As a result of this aid, the ANF and the wider justice system in 
Pakistan, known to have problems with widespread torture and 
corruption, is better able to send people to the hangman's noose on 
drug offences," Reprieve's director, Clive Stafford- Smith, told 
Clegg. "The ANF itself boasts that 106 prisoners have been sentenced 
to death on drugs offences in Pakistan alone."

Khadija Shah, from Birmingham, is potentially facing the death 
penalty in Pakistan on drugs charges. Her baby, Malaika, who will be 
one this weekend, has been in prison all her life. Pakistan's new 
government has promised to end a moratorium on executions.

In his reply, Clegg explained that under guidance issued in 2011 "we 
can seek assurances that UK cooperation will not lead to torture or 
prosecutions that result in the death penalty, and have a clear exit 
strategy if the assurances are not met".

However, Reprieve said it was disappointed that the government had 
refused to withdraw anti-narcotics funding from countries that 
practised the death penalty. Such aid was "facilitating the arrest 
and possible torture and execution of scores of people", said the 
charity's Maya Foa.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom