PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 17/001/2007

04 December 2007

UA 323/07 Death penalty/imminent execution

KUWAIT

Marilou Ranario (f), aged 35, Filipina national

Filipina domestic worker Marilou Ranario was sentenced to death in 2005, and had her sentence confirmed by the Court of Cassation on 27 November 2007. The sentence will now go before Kuwait’s head of state, the Amir, for ratification. This typically takes between two weeks and a month, after which, if the sentence is ratified, Marilou Ranario will be in imminent danger of execution.

Marilou Ranario was arrested on 11 January 2005, the day after her employer was stabbed to death. According to her lawyer, Marilou Ranario suffersfrom paranoia; she had beenrepeatedly ill-treated by her employer, and reportedly stabbed her because she feared further abuse.

On 28 September 2005 she was sentenced to death by a lower court, and on 17 February 2007 the Appeal Court rejected the appeal that is automatically filed on behalf of all prisoners who are sentenced to death. Marilou Ranario’s case was then referred to the Court of Cassation, which has now upheld her sentence.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In 2006, at least 10 people were executed in Kuwait for murder and drug-smuggling. At least six others were under sentence of death. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Arabic, English or your own language:

-urging the authorities to commute the death sentence imposed on Marilou Ranario;

- acknowledging that governments have a right and responsibility to bring those who commit violent crimes to justice, but expressing unconditional opposition to the death penalty as the ultimate violation of the right to life;

- calling on the authorities to commute all outstanding death sentences in Kuwait to more humane alternatives;

- reminding the authorities of the growing international trend towards abolition of the death penalty, and urging them to establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards complete abolition, in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

APPEALS TO:

Head of state
His Highness Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al- Sabah

Amir of the State of Kuwait
al-Diwan al-Amiri, al-Safat, Kuwait
Fax: +965 539 2163
Salutation: Your Highness

Prime Minister
His Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah

Prime Minister
Council of Ministers General Secretariat
P .O. Box 1397, al-Safat 13014, Kuwait
Fax: +965 246 6334
Salutation: Your Highness

Minister of the Interior
His Excellency Jaber Khalid Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Ministry of the Interior
P.O.Box 12500, Shamiya 71655, Kuwait

Fax: +965 243 6570

Email: comment@moi.gov.kw
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice

His Excellency Jamal Ahmad Al-Shihab

Ministry of Justice

P.O.Box 6, al-Safat 1300, Kuwait

Fax: +965 2435220

COPIES TO:

Chairman of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee

Saleh al-Fadhallah

Chairperson, Parliamentary Human Rights Committee National Assembly

P.O. Box 716, al-Safat 13008, Kuwait

Fax: +965 245 5806

Email: human-rights@majlesalommah.net

Salutation: Dear Sir

and to diplomatic representatives of Kuwait accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.