URGENT ACTION APPEAL UPDATE
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24 June 2005
Further Information on UA 160/05 issued 13 June 2005
Fear of imminent execution
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY (PA):
30 to 50 Prisoners on Death Row
On 22 June, President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly ordered
a retrial for all those who had been sentenced to death by
the notoriously unfair State Security Court. Whilst
Amnesty International welcomes this decision, there are
still concerns that the prisoners could be executed even
after a retrial.
There are also concerns that those who are currently on
death row but did not appear before the State Security
Court remain at risk of execution. President Abbas's
statement came 10 days after the execution of four
Palestinians, one of whom had been sentenced by the State
Security Court. These were the first executions since
August 2002 and officials have indicated that more will
follow.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to
arrive as quickly as possible:
- urging President Abbas not to ratify any more death
sentences;
- urging that all those who were sentenced to death after
unfair trials by courts, whether by the State Security Court
or by other courts, be re-tried in compliance with
international standards for fair trial;
- noting that, while recognizing the PA's right and
responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of
recognizably criminal offences, Amnesty International is
unconditionally opposed to the death penalty in all cases as
the ultimate violation of the right to life, and pointing out
that no convincing evidence has ever been produced that
the death penalty is a more effective deterrent than any
other punishment.
APPEALS TO: (It can be difficult getting through to
fax numbers but please keep trying)
(Add the words, VIA ISRAEL at the bottom of each
Palestinian Authority address if you mail your appeals)
President:
President Mahmoud Abbas
Office of the President
Palestinian Authority
Fax: 011 972 8 282 2365 (If someone answers ask for a
fax tone)
Salutation: Dear President
Minister of Justice:
Farid al-Jallad
Ministry of Justice
Palestinian Authority
Fax: 011 972 8 282 9286/ 011 972 8 282 9197/ 011 972 2
240 9472
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Nasser al-Qudwa
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Palestinian Authority
Fax: 011 972 8 286 8971/ 011 972 2 240 3772
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
Ambassador Hassan Abdel'Rahman
Palestine Liberation Organization Office
1320 18th St Suite 200 NW
Washington, DC 20036
T (202) 974 6360
F (202) 974 6278
Please send appeals immediately. Check with the
Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm,
Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after
August 5, 2005.
Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that
promotes and defends human rights.
This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including
contact information and stop action date (if applicable). Thank
you for your help with this appeal.
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: [email protected]
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 303 258 1170
Fax: 303 258 7881
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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