URGENT ACTION APPEAL 28 September 2006 UA 258/06 Fear of imminent execution BANGLADESH Abdur Rahman (m) Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai (m) Ataur Rahman Sunny (m) Abdul Awal (m) Khaled Saifullah (m) Iftekhar Mamun (m) The six men named above, who are members of the Islamist group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), are facing imminent execution, convicted of involvement in a November 2005 suicide bomb attack which killed two judges in the southern city of Jhalakathi. They were sentenced to death on 29 May 2006. Their appeal was rejected by the High Court on 31 August. The prisoners have 30 days to appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court ruling, but so far only one of them, Iftekhar Mamun, is reported to have done so. The attack followed a series of bomb blasts on 17 August 2005, aimed at government offices and court buildings in almost every major city in the country. The prisoners have reportedly admitted that JMB was involved in these attacks. Usually, it is four to five years before a condemned prisoner is executed, but in this case the government appears keen to hasten the executions. The Law Minister has told journalists that the government wishes to carry out the death sentences before it hands over power to a caretaker government, due to take power on 28 October and retain it until elections in 2007. The government claims that the reason for this haste is to show to the world that they are serious about dealing with terrorism. However, civil society groups say the government's real motive might be to suppress evidence that in the past they gave support for the activities of these groups. The prisoners have reportedly said they have information about a government link with their group, and are keen to speak to journalists about it. So far, the authorities have prevented them having any contact with journalists, heightening the suspicion that they want to prevent the men from revealing any government connection to the JMB or similar groups. Another man was sentenced to death in absentia and has so far evaded arrest. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Prisoners sentenced to death in Bangladesh have an automatic appeal hearing before the High Court. They can also lodge additional appeals with the High Court. They can then appeal to the Supreme Court, and after that they have the right to appeal to the President for mercy. Executions are carried out after all these appeals have been exhausted. The number of prisoners sentenced to death has increased in recent years. In 2005, at least 217 men and one woman were sentenced to death, and at least three men were executed by hanging. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: - saying that Amnesty International recognizes the gravity of the offences of which the six men (naming them) have been convicted, but opposes the death penalty in all cases, as it violates the most fundamental right of every human being, the right to life; - urging the authorities to commute the men's death sentences; - urging the authorities to ensure that the prisoners are provided with all the necessary facilities to enable them to appeal against their sentences; - urging that the prisoners are allowed to speak openly to journalists. APPEALS TO: Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia Office of the Prime Minister Gona Bhaban Old Sangsad Bhaban, Tejgaon Dhaka, Bangladesh Fax: 011 880 2 8113244 011 880 2 8113243 011 880 2 8111015 011 880 2 8151490 011 880 2 8151157 Email: pm at pmobd.org psecretary at pmobd.org presssecy at pmobd.org pmo at pmobd.org Salutation: Dear Prime Minister Md. Lutfuzzaman Babar State Minister for Home Affairs Ministry of Home Affairs Bangladesh Secretariat Building 4 Dhaka, Bangladesh Salutation: Dear Minister of State Barrister Moudud Ahmed Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bangladesh Secretariat Dhaka, Bangladesh Salutation: Dear Minister COPIES TO: Ambassador Shamsher M. Chowdhury Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh 3510 International Drive NW Washington DC 20008 Fax: 1 202-244-2771 Email: bdenq at bangladoot.org PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. ---------------------------------- Tip of the Month: Be factual in your appeal. Relay the details of the case as you know them. Do not discuss ideology or politics. Your message must be for the benefit of the individual(s) at risk and not a vehicle for political opinions. ** POSTAGE RATES ** Within the United States: $0.24 - Postcards $0.39 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.) To Mexico and Canada: $0.55 - Postcards $0.63 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.) $0.75 - Aerogrammes To all other destination countries: $0.75 - Postcards $0.84 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.) $0.75 - Aerogrammes 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 600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl Washington DC 20003 Email: uan at aiusa.org http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/ Phone: 202.544.0200 Fax: 202.675.8566 ---------------------------------- END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL ----------------------------------
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide----Urgent Action for six men facing imminent execution in Bangladesh (UA 258/06)
Rick Halperin Thu, 28 Sep 2006 17:00:09 -0500 (Central Daylight Time)