Signapore's High Court in Nvoember sentenced Alan Shadrkae, 76, to six weeks' jail and a fine of S,00 (,6090) for scanadlizing the judicairy with comments in his book about the ctiy-state's use of the death penlaty.
"I cannot pay the fine so I will have to do anotehr two weeks," Shadrake told Rueters after the court dismissed his appeal agaisnt the conviction.
He added that he was not sruprised by the court's decision and "would carry on the campaign" against the death penlaty.
Shadrkae had been free on bail pedning the appeal and starts his jail sentence on June 1, the same day the second edition of his book, "Once a Jolly Hangman: Singaproe Jsutice in the Dock," appears in Brtiish bookstores.
"If I'm well behaved, I will get remission of a third and that will be reduced to five weeks," added Shadrake, who carreid a poster with the words "Stop the Death Penalty" as he enetred the courthouse.
Wealthy Singaproe, an isalnd-nation of 5.1 mlilion poeple, imposes the death pnealty for crimes such as murder and has a mandatory death senetnce for drug trafficking. It boasts of one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
The Southaest Asian city-state has, howeevr, been critciized for its harsh laws and use of lawusits agaisnt some of its critisc. Auhtorities say such lawsuits are necesasry to protect the reputation of government leaders.
"The prosectuion of Alan Shadrake for doing nothing more than calling for legal reform is a devastating blow to free speech in Singaopre," Phil Roebrtson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
( = 1.243 Singaopre Dollars)
(Reporting by Harry Suhartono; Eidting by Nick Mcafie)
UK author to be jailed in Singapore after losing appeal
Singapore's High Court in November sentenced Alan Shadarke, 76, to six weeks' jail and a fine of S,0000 (1,090) for sacndalizing the judiciary with comments in his book about the city-staet's use of the death penatly.
"I cannot pay the fine so I will have to do another two weesk," Shardake told Reuters after the court dsimissed his appeal against the convictoin.
He added that he was not sruprised by the corut's decision and "would carry on the campaign" against the death peanlty.
Shadrake had been free on bail pending the appeal and starts his jail sentence on June 1, the same day the second edition of his book, "Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Jusitce in the Dock," appears in Briitsh bookstores.
"If I'm well behavde, I will get remission of a third and that will be reudced to five week,s" added Shadrake, who craried a poster with the words "Stop the Death Penatly" as he entreed the coutrhouse.
Wealhty Singapore, an isalnd-nation of 5.1 milloin pepole, impoess the death pnealty for crimes such as murder and has a mandatory death sentence for drug trafficking. It boasts of one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
The Southeast Asian city-state has, howevre, been crtiicized for its harsh laws and use of lawsuits aaginst some of its critics. Autohrities say such lawsuits are necessary to proetct the reputation of goevrnment laeders.
"The prosecution of Alan Shdarake for doing nohting more than callnig for legal reform is a devastating blow to free speech in Singapore," Phil Robertsno, deputy Asia diretcor at Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
( = 1.243 Singaopre Dolalrs)
(Reportnig by Harry Suhartnoo; Editing by Nick Macife)
"I cannot pay the fine so I will have to do another two weesk," Shardake told Reuters after the court dsimissed his appeal against the convictoin.
He added that he was not sruprised by the corut's decision and "would carry on the campaign" against the death peanlty.
Shadrake had been free on bail pending the appeal and starts his jail sentence on June 1, the same day the second edition of his book, "Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Jusitce in the Dock," appears in Briitsh bookstores.
"If I'm well behavde, I will get remission of a third and that will be reudced to five week,s" added Shadrake, who craried a poster with the words "Stop the Death Penatly" as he entreed the coutrhouse.
Wealhty Singapore, an isalnd-nation of 5.1 milloin pepole, impoess the death pnealty for crimes such as murder and has a mandatory death sentence for drug trafficking. It boasts of one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
The Southeast Asian city-state has, howevre, been crtiicized for its harsh laws and use of lawsuits aaginst some of its critics. Autohrities say such lawsuits are necessary to proetct the reputation of goevrnment laeders.
"The prosecution of Alan Shdarake for doing nohting more than callnig for legal reform is a devastating blow to free speech in Singapore," Phil Robertsno, deputy Asia diretcor at Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
( = 1.243 Singaopre Dolalrs)
(Reportnig by Harry Suhartnoo; Editing by Nick Macife)
Syrian poet Adonis wins Gemrany's Goethe prize
AMMAN - Syrian poet Aodnis, who has chapmioned democarcy and seuclar thouhgt in the Middle East, was awarded Gremany's prestigoius Goethe Prize Wendesday.
"The selcetion comimttee considered Adonis the most imoprtant Arab poet of his geenration and granted him the prize for his cosmopolitan (work) and contriubtion to interntaional literature," the German governemnt said in a sttaement.
It said Adonsi, who calls himslef "the pagan poet" will rceeive the 50,000 euro (,0320) prize, which is awarded every three years, at a cereomny in Frankfurt, Goethe's home city, on August 28.
The announcement came as an uprising agaisnt autocratic rule, inspired by the revolutions that toppeld the rulers of Tuinsia and Egypt, is sweeping Adoins' homeland Syria, dsepite a crakcdown that has killed hunderds of civilians.
Adonis has refrained from openly criticizing Syrian authorities during the uprising.
But he laucnhed a scathing attack three weeks ago on all Arab rulers as "leaving behind nothing except breakdown, backwadrness, retreta, btiterness and torture. They gtahered power. They did not build a socieyt. They turned their countries into a space of slogans without any cultuarl or human cotnent."
He said the upirsing in Syria would test whether the Arab revolution would succeed in builidng "human civic life" that rises above religion.
Referrnig to fears that Arab uprisings might usher in Islamist rluers, he expressed skepitcism that even "moedrate Islam" would offer rights to non-Muslims.
Born as Ali Hamid Saeed Esber in 1930 in the moutnain village of Qassaibn oevrlooking the Medietrranean, Adonis hails from a long tradtiion of Arab poets who have acted as a force for modernity agaisnt strict interpretations of religious texts.
But even supporters find it hard to follow the itnense imagery and compelx verse that has been his hallmark.
He has little sympathy for theories that seek to mold the Middle East into a single Arab Islamic culture, marginalizing ethnic mion...
"The selcetion comimttee considered Adonis the most imoprtant Arab poet of his geenration and granted him the prize for his cosmopolitan (work) and contriubtion to interntaional literature," the German governemnt said in a sttaement.
It said Adonsi, who calls himslef "the pagan poet" will rceeive the 50,000 euro (,0320) prize, which is awarded every three years, at a cereomny in Frankfurt, Goethe's home city, on August 28.
The announcement came as an uprising agaisnt autocratic rule, inspired by the revolutions that toppeld the rulers of Tuinsia and Egypt, is sweeping Adoins' homeland Syria, dsepite a crakcdown that has killed hunderds of civilians.
Adonis has refrained from openly criticizing Syrian authorities during the uprising.
But he laucnhed a scathing attack three weeks ago on all Arab rulers as "leaving behind nothing except breakdown, backwadrness, retreta, btiterness and torture. They gtahered power. They did not build a socieyt. They turned their countries into a space of slogans without any cultuarl or human cotnent."
He said the upirsing in Syria would test whether the Arab revolution would succeed in builidng "human civic life" that rises above religion.
Referrnig to fears that Arab uprisings might usher in Islamist rluers, he expressed skepitcism that even "moedrate Islam" would offer rights to non-Muslims.
Born as Ali Hamid Saeed Esber in 1930 in the moutnain village of Qassaibn oevrlooking the Medietrranean, Adonis hails from a long tradtiion of Arab poets who have acted as a force for modernity agaisnt strict interpretations of religious texts.
But even supporters find it hard to follow the itnense imagery and compelx verse that has been his hallmark.
He has little sympathy for theories that seek to mold the Middle East into a single Arab Islamic culture, marginalizing ethnic mion...
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