URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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2 August 2005
UA 202/05 Fear of imminent execution
IRAQ: 48 people
According to local press reports 48 people have had their
appeals against their death sentences rejected, and are
therefore at risk of imminent execution. The sentences have
now been referred to the Presidential Council for
ratification, which is the final step before executions can
proceed. The Presidential Council is made up of President
Jalal Talababi and his two deputies, 'Adil 'Abdul Mahdi
and Shaikh Ghazi al-Yawar.
Amnesty International does not have the names of the 48,
or the charges of which they were convicted or any details
of their trials. Since the new Iraqi government was formed
in early May 2005 no executions are known to have been
carried out.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Executions were frequent during the government of
Saddam Hussein, which was overthrown by the invasion of
the US-led coalition in March 2003. After the invasion the
country was first run by the Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA), which suspended the death penalty in June 2003.
On 28 June 2004 power was transferred to an Iraqi interim
government.
On 8 August 2004, the interim government reinstated the
death penalty for crimes such as murder, drug trafficking
and kidnapping. The authorities justified the reintroduction
of the death penalty as a measure to deal with the
deteriorating security situation. Amnesty International
deplored the re-imposition of the death penalty in Iraq, and
has repeatedly raised its concerns with the Iraqi authorities,
making submissions to the Minister of Human Rights and
Minister of Justice. A new government was formed in early
May 2005, under Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'afari, a
former Shi'a Muslim exile.
In November 2004, 10 people were sentenced to death for
"criminal activities" and a number of others have since
been sentenced to death for "terrorist activities", rape of
women and killing of officials and policemen.
Before the new government was formed, Jalal Talabani
declared his opposition to the use of the death penalty, in
interviews with national and international media.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to
arrive as quickly as possible:
- expressing concern at reports that 48 people are facing
imminent execution;
- asking to be told the full names of the 48, the charges of
which they were convicted, and the dates of their trials;
- acknowledging the seriousness of the security situation in
Iraq, but pointing out that the death penalty has never
proved to be an effective deterrent to crime;
- condemning all abuses by armed groups and others,
including kidnapping, rape and killing of civilians, and
urging that those responsible for these abuses be brought to
justice in trials that meet international standards for fair
trial and that do not impose the death penalty;
- calling on the authorities to commute all death sentences,
and to abolish the death penalty in law and practice.
APPEALS TO: Fax numbers and e-mail addresses for
the Iraqi authorities are not available. Please send
appeals via the Iraqi embassy, asking them to forward
your appeals to:
President of the Republic of Iraq
Jalal Talabani
Salutation: Your Excellency
Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq
Dr. Ibrahim al-Ja'afari
Salutation: Your Excellency
Ask for the Iraqi to send copies to the Acting Human Rights
Minister, Nasreen Barwari.
Ambassador Ms. Rend Al-Rahim
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
1801 P St. NW
Washington DC 20036
Fax: 1 202 462 5066
Email: [email protected]
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
September 13, 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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