Globally, the bulk of known executions in 2022 were concentrated in five countries. China topped the list with presumed thousands of executions, followed by Iran and Saudi Arabia, Egypt with 24, and the US with 18 recorded executions. The Middle East and North Africa region accounted for 93% of known global executions, excluding those in China. Notably, Saudi Arabia recorded its highest total in 30 years.

There were also positive developments from a death-penalty abolitionist perspective in 2022, the report said. Six countries—Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Zambia— abolished or partially abolished the death penalty for various crimes. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) also saw an unprecedented number of member states supporting the adoption of a biennial resolution calling for a moratorium on executions and the eventual abolition of the death penalty. Close to two-thirds of UN member states, including Ghana, Liberia, and Myanmar (Burma), voted in favor of the resolution.

From Jurist, May 17. Used with permission.

Note: Burma, despite votiing for the UNGA moratorium resolution in December, actually carried out four executions in 2022, resuming the practice following a suspension of more than 30 years.

Photo: ICHRI

Production by Chris Rywalt

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Liberia’s former warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor, who was opposed by ULIMO, was convicted in 2012 of war crimes and crimes against humanity—but over his involvement in the war in neighboring Sierra Leone, not in his own country. A US appeals court in Philadelphia sentenced another ULIMO commander, Mohammed Jabbahteh AKA “Jungle Jabba,” to 30 years in prison this September. But while that trial heard gruesome details of atrocities, Jabbahteh was convicted for immigration fraud.

During Liberia’s twin armed conflicts from 1989-96 and 1999-2003, Liberians suffered widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, inclduing mass killings, rape and other forms of sexual violence, summary executions, mutilation and torture, and use of child combatants. Liberian perpetrators have never been tried in their own country, despite that fact that a truth and reconciliation commission recommended more than a decade ago that a war-crimes tribunal be established.

Switzerland is also said to be preparing a case against Ousman Sonko, Gambia’s former interior minister. Sonko was arrested in Bern this January, on allegations of torture filed by the Swiss branch of the rights group TRIAL International. (HRW, TRT, NYT, SwissInfo, JusticeInfo, BBC News, Front Page Africa)

Photo: IRIN via JusticeInfo

The suit next alleges that the interpretation violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment and the Equal Protection guarantee of the 14th Amendment because it is based on biases against certain races and national origins—particularly those of people from countries Trump has described in derogatory terms.

The plaintiffs also assert that the administration’s decision deviates from prior interpretations in a manner that violates the Administrative Procedure Act. They claim that these actions disregarded the interests of those who have been living in the country peacefully, and are “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.”

From Jurist, March 13. Used with permission.

The SCSL was created in a joint endeavor by the government of Sierra Leone and the UN to provide a forum to try those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law, committed in Sierra Leone. With Taylor's conviction, the SCSL has largely fulfilled its mission and will take steps to shut down. Steps have already been taken to facilitate this process. In November 2009, the SCSL handed over its detention facility to the Sierra Leone Prison Service in a monumental step towards the court's resolution. The month before, eight men judged guilty of war crimes by the court were transferred to Rwanda to serve out their terms. Although the court is winding down, it is still active. In early October, the SCSL sentenced four men to prison terms ranging from 18 months to 2 years on contempt charges stemming from allegations of witness tampering. The month before, the court found three members of Sierra Leone's former Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) guilty of contempt.

From Jurist, Sept. 26. Used with permission.
 

Specifically Taylor was convicted of 11 counts for arming Sierra Leone’s rebels in return for “blood diamonds” during the war. On appeal the prosecution is asking the court to overturn Taylor’s acquittal on charges that he actively issued orders to the rebels, and increase Taylor’s sentence to 80 years. At the original sentencing hearing Taylor claimed he had “sadness and deepest sympathy for the atrocities and crimes suffered in Sierra Leone” but that he was not responsible for actions taken by rebel forces during the decade-long civil war that claimed 120,000 lives.

From Jurist, Jan. 22. Used with permission.