UNITED KINGDOM: PRESSURE ON BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO END SUPPORT FOR COUNTER-NARCOTICS PROGRAMS IN IRAN AND PAKISTAN

November 18, 2013: The legal and human rights charity Reprieve has called on the United Kingdom to follow Ireland’s lead in stopping support for counter-narcotics programs in Iran and Pakistan which lead to death sentences.
The UK has also contributed several million pounds to Iranian programmes and to similar operations in Pakistan – which also has the death penalty for drug offences, and one of the largest death row populations in the world. However, the British Government has failed to attach conditions to the aid to ensure it does not contribute to the death penalty.
As a result, UK public money used to support counter-narcotics operations in Iran and Pakistan is contributing to death sentences handed down in those countries for drug offences, said the charity. Following 8 November Ireland’s move, which follows Denmark in ending such support, Reprieve has written to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to urge action on the part of the British Government to end “aid for executions.”
Maya Foa, Director of Reprieve’s Death Penalty Team said: “Britain is rapidly becoming isolated as the only country which thinks supporting the death penalty machines of Iran and Pakistan is acceptable. Hundreds of people have been sentenced to death in these countries in the last few years for non-violent drug offences – helped by millions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money.” (Sources: Reprieve, 18/11/2013)