News Service 25/98

AI INDEX: MDE 31/01/98

12 FEBRUARY 1998

PUBLIC STATEMENT

Yemen

Amnesty International welcomes release of Mansur Rajih

Amnesty International welcomed the recent release of Mansur Muhammad Ahmad Rajih.

Mansur Rajih, a writer and poet, was arrested in June 1983 and charged with murder. In March 1984 he was sentenced to death by the Court of First Instance in Ta’iz.

Amnesty International was gravely concerned that Mansur Rajih has been convicted because of the peaceful expression of his political views, and held solely for his non-violent opposition to the government of the former Yemen Arab Republic, and therefore believed him to be a prisoner of conscience who has spent several years in prison charged with a crime he did not commit.

ENDS.../

**************************************

For further information, please refer to the Amnesty International reports:

- Mansur Rajih: Prisoner of conscience under sentence of death (AI Index: MDE 31/03/92)

- Unlawful Detention and Unfair Trials of members of the Former National Democratic Front

(AI Index: MDE 31/04/93)