URGENT ACTION APPEAL
---------------------------------- 19 August 2005 UA 216/05 Death penalty/unfair trial SAUDI ARABIA Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari (m) Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari was sentenced to death by the Cassation Court for a murder committed 23 years ago. Amnesty International believes he was unfairly tried and should have his sentence commuted by King Abdullah who has the final decision in whether to ratify or commute the sentence. In 1989 Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari was tried and found guilty of manslaughter, on the basis that he did not intend to kill the victim. He was ordered to pay blood money to the family of the victim, and was then released. However, three years later, he was rearrested and retried for the same crime and was sentenced to death in 1992. His case was heard and determined in one session; neither he nor his lawyer had access to the file, and were not able to appeal against the sentence before it was ratified by the Cassation Court. According to reports in al-Watan newspaper, the facts of the case in the second trial differed from the first. For example, in the second trial he was accused of using an iron bar when he attacked the victim, while in the first trial it was reported that he used a wooden stick. Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari's case is believed to have also been adopted by the Saudi Arabian, National Human Rights Association. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences. Court proceedings often fall far short of international standards for fair trial, and take place behind closed doors. Defendants do not have the right to formal representation by a lawyer, and in many cases are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. They may be convicted solely on the basis of confessions obtained under duress, torture or deception. At least 60 people are known to have been executed in Saudi Arabia so far this year including two women. The actual figure may be much higher. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: - calling for the execution of Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari to be stayed and the death sentence to be commuted; - calling on the authorities to investigate any reported irregularity in Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari's case, including the reported variations in the facts, and ensure that he is allowed to appeal against the decision; - acknowledging the right of the government to bring to justice those responsible for criminal offences, but expressing unconditional opposition to the death penalty; - reminding the authorities of international standards for fair trial in capital cases, including the right to seek an appeal, pardon or commutation of the sentence. APPEALS TO: Minister of the Interior: His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin 'Abdul 'Aziz Minister of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior P.O. Box 2933, Airport Road, Riyadh 11134, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Fax: 011 966 1 403 1185 (it may be difficult to get through, please keep trying) Salutation: Your Royal Highness Minister of Justice: His Excellency Dr. 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice University Street, Riyadh 11137, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Fax: 011 966 1 401 1741 Salutation: Your Excellency King and Prime Minister: The Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines His Majesty King Abdullah Office of His Majesty The King Royal Court, Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Salutation: Your Majesty COPIES TO: Ambassador Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Embassy of Saudi Arabia 601 New Hampshire Ave. NW Washington DC 20037 Fax: 1 202 944 3113 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 30 September 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 ---------------------------------- END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL ----------------------------------
