Feb. 27
EGYPT:
AU panel urges Egypt to halt execution: Activist
The commission called on al-Sisi to intervene to suspend the execution until
the panel finalizes its report on the case
An African Union committee has called on Egypt to halt the execution of a
supporter of ousted president Mohamed Morsi who had been sentenced to death on
murder charges, a rights activist said Friday.
Ahmed Mafrah, director of the Geneva-based Al-Karama human rights center's
office in Cairo, told The Anadolu Agency that his organization filed a
complaint on Feb. 16 against the verdict before the Gambia-based African
Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
"Mahmod Ramadan has been put on death row based on false claims," said Mafrah,
whose organization is handling the case.
Mafrah added that the commission had responded with a letter urging President
Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to hold the execution until the committee reviews the
case.
On Feb.5, an Egyptian court upheld a death sentence handed down against
Ramadan, who was convicted of killing a teenager after throwing a number of
Morsi opponents from the roof of a building during clashes in the coastal city
of Alexandria in the summer of 2013.
The court also upheld life sentences handed down against 16 other defendants,
15-year jail terms for eight defendants, and 10-year jail terms for 35 others
in connection with the same case.
A minor was also jailed for 7 years in the same case.
Defense lawyer Ahmed al-Hamrawi had said that the death penalty against Ramadan
was the first to be upheld by an Egyptian court against a supporter of Morsi.
The commission's letter, of which AA has obtained a copy, called on Egyptian
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to intervene to suspend the execution until the
panel finalizes its report on the case.
Egypt, a member of the pan-African body, has ratified 1981's African Charter of
Human and People's Rights.
No date has been announced thus far for Ramadan's execution.
Egyptian authorities have yet to respond to the African committee's request.
However, the Egyptian government has routinely declines comment on judicial
rulings.
The incident for which Ramadan and the other defendants were tried took place 2
days after the army unseated Morsi - Egypt's 1st freely elected president -
following massive protests against his 1-year rule.
Egypt's authorities have since launched a wide-ranging crackdown on supporters
of Morsi and his embattled Muslim Brotherhood group, detaining thousands and
killing hundreds.
Egyptian authorities have also branded the Brotherhood a "terrorist" group on
claims that it condones violence, an allegation dismissed by the movement,
which says it is committed to peaceful activism.
(source: World Bulletin)
BAHRAIN:
Defendants sentenced to death, life for killing officers
Advocate General and Chief Prosecutor of the Terror Crimes Prosecution, Ahmed
Al-Hammadi, today confirmed that the Higher Criminal Court has issued a verdict
in a case regarding the targeting of security forces in the Northern
Governorate last year.
On 3 March 2014, the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED)
resulted in the death of three policemen, Lieutenant Tariq Mohammed Al-Shehi,
Mohammed Raslan and Ammar Abdo Ali Mohammed. The court has found the suspects
guilty of this crime and sentenced 3 of them with death penalty, while 7 have
been sentenced with life imprisonment and 8 with revocation of citizenship. The
Court alsoorderedthe defendants to pay damages for the issues associated with
the incident.
The Court heard that the defendants had planted remote detonating IEDs on the
public highway and lured policemen to the scene after staging riots and
carrying out acts of vandalism. Once security forces arrived at the scene the
defendants detonated an IED, which resulted in the deaths of the policemen and
injured 13 others.
The charges follow an investigation carried out by the Public Prosecution,
which found that the first and second suspects formed a terrorist organisation
within the framework of the Saraya Al-Ashtar terrorist group. They succeeded in
recruiting the rest of the defendants and others with experience in creating
and using explosives. Their overarching aim was to form several groups that
carry out terrorist acts aimed at killing policemen and destroying vital
security facilities and public property in order to disturb public peace and
prevent authorities from carrying out their duties.
Evidence indicated that the defendants also produced several IEDs and held
meetings during which they formulated plans to achieve the criminal goals and
objectives of the group. The defendants agreed to exploit the funeral of a
deceased individual whose funeral was taking place in close proximity to a
security check point, where they planted remotely controlled IEDs. The
defendants aimed to entice as many security force personnel to the scene as
possible in order to inflict the largest number of deaths and injury.
The Court heard that the night before the incident, the defendants planned the
crime by planting 3 IEDs at the scene and assigned the 4th suspect with
detonating the first IED, which claimed the lives of the 3 policemen.
Unidentified members of the organisation were assigned with detonating the 2
remaining IEDs under the supervision of the 3rd suspect. The 5th suspect was
assigned with filming the incident and the rest of the defendants were assigned
as lookouts.
On 3 March 2014, the defendants staged riots and carried out acts of vandalism
in the area where the IEDs were planted in order to lure the security forces to
engage with them. The 4th suspect took up a position on top of a building in
the area. As soon as the security forces arrived, he detonated the IED using a
mobile phone. The 2 remaining IEDs were not detonated as the 2nd IED was
damaged due to the explosion and the security forces did not approach the 3rd
IED.
5 of the 8 defendants referred by the Public Prosecution to the Higher Criminal
Court were remanded in custody pending investigation, while the remaining 3 are
still fugitives. The defendants are charged with the organisation and
management of a group with the intention to disrupt the provisions of the
constitution and prevent state institutions from carrying out their duties.
They are charged with using terrorism as a means to achieve the group's
objectives and recruiting individuals and overseeing the production of
explosives. They are also charged with targeting police personnel and attempts
to weaken state institutions in order to overthrow them.
Additionally, 6 of the defendants were charged with joining a terrorist group.
They, alongside one other defendant, were also charged with engaging in
terrorist activities that led to further charges of murder, attempted murder
and the damaging of public property.
The case was held at the Higher Criminal Court where it heard from the defence,
affording defendants their full legal rights. The court subsequently heard the
Public Prosecution's statement, which called for the maximum punishment
available, which is the death penalty. The court issued its aforementioned
verdict and convicted the defendants.
The court based its rulingon the evidence provided by the Public Prosecution,
which confirms the crimes committed by the suspects. The evidence included
testimonies from 17 witnesses and the seizure of materials used in the
manufacturing of explosives. The suspects were found in possession of these
materials, in addition to mobile phone communications of 1 of the suspects that
confirmed the suspects communicated with each other on the day of the incident
and beforehand. Their conversations included the targeting of police officers.
Moreover, the crime scene report showed that the DNA of one of the suspects was
found on one of the IEDs that was not detonated.
The Court based its ruling on the conclusive evidence presented to it. The
Advocate Generalreaffirmed the defendants' right to appeal the verdict at a
Higher Court, in accordance with due process.
(source: Bahrain News Agency)
*****************
Killers of UAE officer get death sentence
3 men were sentenced to death by a Bahrain court on Thursday and 7 others were
given a life term for killing 3 policemen including 1 from the UAE.The
kingdom's Public Prosecution said on its Twitter account that the men were
found guilty of killing 3 policemen last March, including Lieutenant Tareq
Mohammed Al Shehhi from the UAE.
The defendants who escaped the death penalty were sentenced to life
imprisonment and will have their citizenship stripped, said defence attorney
Mohammed Al Tajir. He said he will appeal the verdict.
"3 defendants were sentenced to death and life imprisonment (was handed down)
for the remaining accused," the public prosecution said on its Twitter account,
adding that a number the men will be stripped of their nationality.
The ruling is the latest in a series of strict penalties handed down to those
accused of seeking to destabilise the kingdom.
(source: Gulf Today)
****************
BAHRAIN:
THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER UNFAIR TRIAL
Three Bahraini men have been sentenced to death after an unfair trial, and
another seven to life
imprisonment in relation to the killing of three policemen. They have each had
their nationality
revoked.
View the full Urgent Action, including case information, addresses and sample
messages, here.
Ali Abdulshaheed al-Sankis, Sami Mirza Mshaima’ and Abbas Jamil Taher Mhammad
al-Samea were
sentenced to death on 26 February by the High Criminal Court in the capital,
Manama. They had been
convicted of charges that included “organizing, running and financing a
terrorist group (Al-Ashtar
Brigade) with the aim of carrying terrorist attacks”; “possession and planting
of explosives with
the intent to kill security forces and causing disorder”; “killing of three
police officers and
attempted killing of others”. Another seven men were sentenced to life in
prison. The court also
ordered that all 10 men should have their nationality revoked.
They had been arrested around 3 March 2014 after their houses were raided by
masked security
officers. During three weeks of interrogation at the Criminal Investigation
Directorate (CID) they
did not have access to their families or lawyers and they said they had been
tortured. Sami Mshaima’
and Abbas al-Samea later told their families the torture had included being
given electric shocks,
beaten, burnt with cigarettes, being deprived of sleep, and sexually assaulted.
The men only had access to their lawyers for the first time during their first
court hearing on 30
April despite repeated requests to do so by the lawyers ahead of trial. During
their first hearing
their lawyers requested they be examined by a forensic doctor but the request
was rejected. Their
lawyers did not have access to the full evidence against them and were not
allowed to cross-examine
prosecution witnesses. The defendants were not allowed to speak in court. Their
lawyers withdrew
from the case in protest and new lawyers, two of whom had represented them
before, were appointed by
the court.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
After a bomb blast killed three policemen in the village al-Daih on 3 March
2014, the security
forces raided a number of homes and arrested at least 25 people, including the
10 that were
sentenced on 26 February. Many of those who were arrested and later released
said they were tortured
or otherwise ill-treated. One of them, Abbas Jamil Taher Mhammad al-Samea, a
schoolteacher, said he
had been in school at the time of the bombing and had presented a letter from
the school
corroborating this.
View the full Urgent Action here.
Names: Ali Abdulshaheed al-Sankis (m), Sami Mirza Mshaima’ (m), Abbas Jamil
Taher Mhammad al-Samea
(m), Ahmad Jaafar Mhamad ‘Ali (m), ‘Ali Jamil Taher Mhamad al-Samea (m), Taher
Youssif Ahmed Mhamad
al-Samie (m), Hussein Ahmad Rashed Khalil (m), Redha Mirza Mshaima’ (m),
Hussein Sabah Abdulhussein
(m) and Ahmad M’touq Ibrahim (m)
Issues: Death penalty, Unfair trial, Torture
UA: 47/15
Issue Date: 27 February 2015
Country: Bahrain
Please let us know if you took action so that we can track our impact!
EITHER send a short email to u...@aiusa.org with "UA 47/15" in the subject line,
and include in the
body of the email the number of letters and/or emails you sent.
OR fill out this short online form to let us know how you took action.
Thank you for taking action! Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Office
if sending appeals
after the below date. If you receive a response from a government official,
please forward it to us
at u...@aiusa.org or to the Urgent Action Office address below.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Please write immediately in English or Arabic:
* Urging the authorities not to execute Ali Abdulshaheed al-Sankis, Sami
Mirza Mshaima’ and Abbas
Jamil Taher Mhammad al-Samea and immediately establish an official
moratorium on executions with
a view to abolishing the death penalty;
* Urging them to order a full retrial of the individuals, ensuring
internationally recognized
standards for fair trial are complied with, without recourse to the death
penalty;
* Acknowledging the Bahraini government’s responsibility to protect the
public and bring to
justice those who commit crimes, but insisting that this should always be
done in accordance
with international law and Bahrain’s international human rights
obligations.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 10 APRIL 2015 TO:
King
Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: 011 973 1766 4587
Salutation: Your Majesty
Prime Minister
Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: 011 973 1753 3033
Salutation: Your Highness
Minister of Justice
Shaikh Khaled bin Ali al-Khalifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P. O. Box 450, Manama, Bahrain
Fax: 011 973 1753 1284
Salutation: Your Excellency
Also send copies to:
H.E. Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Embassy of
the Kingdom of
Bahrain
3502 International Dr. NW, Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 362 2192 I Email: ambsecret...@bahrainembassy.org
Please share widely with your networks: http://bit.ly/1wqDE8I
We encourage you to share Urgent Actions with your friends and colleagues! When
you share with your
networks, instead of forwarding the original email, please use the "Forward
this email to a friend"
link found at the very bottom of this email. Thank you for your activism!
UA Network Office AIUSA │600 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC 20003
T. 202.509.8193 │ F. 202.509.8193 │E. u...@aiusa.org │amnestyusa.org/urgent
SAUDI ARABIA:
Axe murderer and heroin smuggler are both beheaded in Saudi Arabia, bringing
the number of death sentences carried out in the kingdom to 34 this year ----2
more public beheadings have been carried out in Saudi Arabia today
Saudi Arabia has beheaded an axe murderer and a heroin smuggler bringing the
total number of public executions in the kingdom this year to 34.
Indian man Vijay Kumar Saleem was convicted of killing a Yemeni national in an
axe attack by striking him on the head.
According to the Saudi interior ministry, the attack took place after a dispute
at the farm where the men worked and Saleem was executed in the capital Riyadh.
Meanwhile in the holy city of Medina, Pakistani national Hafiz Wifaq Rasoul
Shah was also beheaded after being convicted of heroin trafficking.
A separate interior ministry statement said: 'Investigations led to his
confession and he was tried and found guilty.'
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Gulf has become
an increasingly important market for illicit drugs in recent years.
The Saudi government says it 'is committed to fighting drugs of all kinds due
to the physical and social harm they cause'.
It also says the death penalty in murder cases aims 'to maintain security and
realise justice'.
Drug trafficking, rape, murder, apostasy and armed robbery are all punishable
by death under the Gulf kingdom's strict version of Islamic sharia law.
The beheadings come just a day after a man was sentenced to death for
renouncing his Muslim faith and posting a video on a social media site which
shows him ripping up the Koran before hitting it with his shoe.
A source who was in the General Court during his hearing said: 'In the video he
cursed God, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his daughter Fatimah and
ripped a copy of the Holy Qur'an and hit it with a shoe.
'The death sentence was issued after his apostasy was proven.'
Amnesty International said in its annual report released on Wednesday that
death sentences are often imposed 'after unfair trials'.
The London-based watchdog said some defendants claimed to have been tortured or
'otherwise coerced or misled into making false confessions' before trial.
It is believed that the kingdom executed 87 people last year, up from 78 in
2013.
The Saudi government has taken some steps to reform its judicial system but has
also defended it as 'fair'.
Last year a court in Jeddah sentenced Saudi liberal Raif Badawi to 1,000 lashes
and 10 years in prison for publishing criticism of the kingdom's ruling
religious and political elite and calling for reforms in Islam.
The 1st of 50 of those lashes were carried out in January, but subsequent
rounds of flogging have not occurred.
Officials have not publicly commented on the case, but insiders say the lashing
appears to have been quietly dropped.
(source: Daily Mail)
IRAN----execution
A Prisoner Hanged in the Prison of Tabas
A prisoner, who was accused by dealing drugs, was hanged in Central Prison of
Tabas.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA),
Mehdi Fatahi, from Torbat Heidarieh, who had been arrested about 3 years ago
and was charged with drug related crimes, was executed in Central Prison of
Tabas.
First, he had been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Tabas court, but in
appeal court his sentence increased to death and after being upheld by the
Supreme Court, he was executed.
(source: HRANA News Agency)
*************************
Executions and human rights abuses continue to soar under 'moderate' Rouhani
Iran's so-called 'moderate' President Hassan Rouhani has made no efforts to
improve human rights in his own country or moves to improve relations with the
West after 18 months, European Parliament Vice-President Ryszard Czarnecki has
insisted.
And the nuclear negotiations between the regime and the P5+1 group of nations
have been based on a false premise from the start, he said.
He wrote: "The Joint Plan of Action was signed about 5 months after President
Hassan Rouhani took office in Iran amidst promises that he would improve the
domestic situation in his country while reaching out the West to alleviate the
international sanctions that had hobbled the Iranian economy.
"Many in Europe, and presumably many in Iran, wanted very badly to believe that
Rouhani would herald some sort of sea change in the Islamic Republic's tone
toward the Western world and its treatment of its own people.
"Rouhani has boasted of defiance of the West when speaking to his fellow
officials and to the Iranian people. At a rally commemorating the 36th
anniversary of the Iranian Revolution this month, Rouhani insisted that it was
not the West that had brought Iran to the negotiating table, but Iran that had
bent the United States to its will.
"He also bragged, 'We never stopped our nuclear program but (during my
government) we accelerated the program more than before'."
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei insists that there can be no negotiation over basic
aspects of the nuclear issue such as enrichment capacity, Mr Czarnecki wrote.
But meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards Corps is bragging that its military
capabilities are spectacularly advanced, he said.
He added: "But perhaps it is only that President Rouhani could not stand up to
the Supreme Leader on the issue of relations with the West and still hopes to
make the promised domestic changes.
"Well, what of those changes? Surely the true measure of Rouhani's commitment
to moderation is in the way the government now treats its own people.
"If anti-Western rhetoric under the Rouhani administration has stoked
suspicions that the regime is averse to cooperation with the values and
interests of Western democracies, the 18-month legacy of that administration on
human rights should leave no doubt. The situation is far worse than before.
The rate of executions, already the highest per capita of any nation in the
world, has continued to climb under Rouhani, along with censorship,
confiscation of satellite dishes and spying on the population, he said.
Mr Czarnecki added: "But from the perspective of the West, perhaps the most
frightening thing about Iran's intimidation tactics and dissemination of
propaganda is that they appear to be having an effect on Western policy-makers,
perhaps even more than upon Iran's own people.
"How else can we explain the Obama administration's decision to keep extending
sanctions relief to Iran while conceding to as much as 80 % of the regime's
demands, as by letting it keep 6,500 or more of its 10,000 enrichment
centrifuges?
"How else can we explain past efforts by some Western governments to or
marginalize or demonize the main opposition PMOI (MEK), and the National
Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) which has been the target of so much
Iranian propaganda precisely because it advocates for the free, secular, and
democratic future of Iran that all peace-loving nations must envision?
"Indeed, how else can we explain the very fact that despite more than 1,200
executions carried out by Hassan Rouhani, some in Europe still claim he is a
political moderate, that Iran is a rational and trustworthy negotiating power,
that Iran's prior deceptions regarding its nuclear program are not indicative
of things to come?
"If we don't let ourselves be duped by Iranian propaganda, then we will see
conditions both inside and outside that country as they truly are. And those
conditions truly are worse than ever, characterized by murder and execution, by
repression of dissent, by free antagonism of the West. The only viable option
for Europe is therefore to support the democratic resistance that struggles to
replace the theocratic regime with a genuinely pluralistic, free and democratic
Iran."
(source: NCR-Iran)
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