Botswana Appeals Death Penalty for Citizen Detained in Bangladesh<\/p>\n
By Kaila Hall<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On May 31, 2024, the Botswana government appealed the death sentence of Lesedi Molapisi, a Motswana woman recently convicted of drug trafficking in Bangladesh. President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana expressed concerns with the sentence and vowed to \u201cdo everything [Botswana] can within the law to try and save her life. What is left is an appeal, so [the Botswana government] will facilitate, provide counseling and support to the family.\u201d Although the President spoke out against the sentence, it should be noted that capital punishment remains legal for serious crimes in Botswana,1<\/sup> including drug trafficking. Currently, there are 16 inmates on death row in Botswana. Masisi reminded the Batwana people that, \u201ceven in our consultation of the constitutional review, Botswana expressed a similar view to the country where she is being sentenced. There are some strong sentiments out there about involvement in the drug trade.\u201d2<\/sup><\/p>\n In 2022, 30-year-old Lesedi Molapisi was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh after customs agents found her carrying 3.145kg of heroin. She had been traveling on a Qatar Airways flight from South Africa. Following Molapisi\u2019s arrest, President Masisi announced Botswana would provide \u201csome financial support to enable the final appeal\u201d by Amnesty International3<\/sup>. On Monday, May 27, Molapisi was sentenced to death, prompting President Masisi to pledge support4<\/sup> to her family.<\/p>\n Several human rights organizations have condemned the ruling, particularly Amnesty International5<\/sup> which is opposed to the death penalty in any circumstances. It advocates for the abolition of capital punishment for the following reasons:6<\/sup> it is irreversible and mistakes happen, it does not deter crime, it is often used within skewed justice systems, it is discriminatory, and it is used as a political tool. In 2007, Amnesty International7<\/sup> called on the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a resolution \u201caffirming the right to life and stating that abolition of the death penalty is essential for the protection of human rights.\u201d It also called on retentionist countries to \u201cestablish a moratorium on executions and to respect international standards that guarantee the protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty.\u201d<\/p>\n Furthermore, other international human rights conventions prohibit capital punishment. These include the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,8<\/sup> the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights,9 <\/sup>Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,10<\/sup> and Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.11<\/sup> In 2015, Amnesty International ratified12<\/sup> these four treaties. In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 73\/17513<\/sup> to call for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty on the grounds that it \u201ccontributes to respect for human dignity and to the enhancement and progressive development.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1] \u201cBotswana: Executions of Two People Show Contempt for Right to Life under President Masisi\u2019s Government.\u201d Amnesty International<\/em>, 9 Feb. 2021, www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/press-release\/2021\/02\/botswana-executions-of-two-people-show-contempt-for-right-to-life-under-president-masisis-government\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n [2] Ndebele, Lenin. \u201cPro-Death-Penalty Botswana Appeals Death Penalty for Citizen Busted for Drugs in Bangladesh.\u201d News24<\/em>, www.news24.com\/news24\/africa\/news\/pro-death-penalty-botswana-appeals-death-penalty-for-citizen-busted-for-drugs-in-bangladesh-20240531<\/a>.<\/p>\n [3] Ramadubu, Dikarabo. \u201cMotswana Woman Sentenced to Death in Bangladesh.\u201d Guardian Sun<\/em>, 30 May 2024, guardiansun.co.bw\/news\/motswana-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-bangladesh\/news<\/a><\/p>\n [4] Mathala, Sharon. \u201cBotswana Pledges Support in Drug Mule\u2019s Death Sentence Appeal.\u201d Mmegi Online<\/em>, 29 May 2024, www.mmegi.bw\/news\/botswana-pledges-support-in-drug-mules-death-sentence-appeal\/news<\/a> \u200c<\/p>\n [5] Ramadubu, Dikarabo. \u201cMotswana Woman Sentenced to Death in Bangladesh.\u201d Guardian Sun<\/em>, 30 May 2024, guardiansun.co.bw\/news\/motswana-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-bangladesh\/news<\/a><\/p>\n [6] Amnesty International. \u201cDeath Penalty.\u201d Amnesty International<\/em>, 2024, www.amnesty.org\/en\/what-we-do\/death-penalty\/<\/a><\/p>\n [7] Amnesty International. \u201cAmnesty International.\u201d Amnesty.org<\/em>, Sept. 2007, www.amnesty.org\/en\/documents\/ACT51\/002\/2007\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n [8] United Nations. \u201cSecond Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty.\u201d OHCHR<\/em>, 15 Dec. 1989, www.ohchr.org\/en\/instruments-mechanisms\/instruments\/second-optional-protocol-international-covenant-civil-and<\/a><\/p>\n [9] OAS. \u201cOAS – Organization of American States: Democracy for Peace, Security, and Development.\u201d Www.oas.org<\/em>, 1 Aug. 2009, www.oas.org\/en\/iachr\/mandate\/Basics\/9.PROTOCOL%20ON%20DEATH%20PENALTY.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n [10] Council of Europe. \u201cProtocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty *.\u201d European Treaty Series – No. 114<\/em>, 4 Nov. 1950, rm.coe.int\/168007952b<\/a><\/p>\n [11] Council of Europe. \u201cProtocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances.\u201d European Treaty Series- No. 187<\/em>, 3 May 2002, https:\/\/rm.coe.int\/1680081563<\/a><\/p>\n [12] \u201cDeath Penalty: Ratification of International Treaties.\u201d Amnesty International<\/em>, 1 Sep. 2022, www.amnesty.org\/en\/documents\/act50\/5722\/2022\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n [13] UNITED NATIONS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY. \u201cResolution Adopted by the UN General Assembly.\u201d International Journal of Lifelong Education<\/em>, vol. 12, no. 1, 17 Dec. 2018, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/0260137930120107<\/a>. See also UN General Assembly resolutions adopted in 2007 https:\/\/documents.un.org\/doc\/undoc\/gen\/n07\/472\/71\/pdf\/n0747271.pdf?token=ejWjgiDbBePnKoa80q&fe=true<\/a>, 2008 https:\/\/documents.un.org\/doc\/undoc\/gen\/n08\/480\/87\/pdf\/n0848087.pdf?token=0qp6j7U4LCPILyYZPm&fe=true<\/a>, 2010 https:\/\/documents.un.org\/doc\/undoc\/gen\/n10\/524\/90\/pdf\/n1052490.pdf?token=RxDROADIhGUVJXVcVe&fe=true<\/a>, 2012 https:\/\/documents.un.org\/doc\/undoc\/gen\/n12\/489\/16\/pdf\/n1248916.pdf?token=6uyaUtt35TPMNwZznY&fe=true<\/a> 2014 https:\/\/documents.un.org\/doc\/undoc\/gen\/n14\/708\/68\/pdf\/n1470868.pdf?token=Mof88t8pvhmKw1JSGP&fe=true<\/a>, and 2016<\/a> https:\/\/documents.un.org\/doc\/undoc\/gen\/n16\/454\/48\/pdf\/n1645448.pdf?token=nY3Bbcv0P38kz54jcq&fe=true<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Botswana Appeals Death Penalty for Citizen Detained in Bangladesh By Kaila Hall On May 31, 2024, the Botswana government appealed the death sentence of Lesedi Molapisi, a Motswana woman recently convicted of drug trafficking in Bangladesh. President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana expressed concerns with the sentence and vowed to \u201cdo everything [Botswana] can within […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[341,34,93,65],"tags":[306,205,342],"class_list":{"0":"post-2022","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-capital-punishment","7":"category-drug-trafficking","8":"category-human-rights","9":"category-internationalhumanrights","10":"tag-bangladesh","11":"tag-botswana","12":"tag-drug-mules","13":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n