PUBLICAI Index: MDE 12/36/98

10 July 1998

Further information on UA 81/98 (MDE 12/17/98, 12 March 1998) and follow-up (MDE 12/25/98, 15 May 1998) - Death penalty

EGYPT’Aida Nour al-Din Abu-Zeid (f), nurse, 25

On 9 July 1998, the Court of Cassation quashed the death sentence passed on ‘Aida Nour al-Din Abu-Zeid by the Alexandria Criminal court in March 1998.

The Court ordered that she be retried before a different Criminal court as her first trial, by the Alexandria Criminal court, was marred by several procedural irregularities.

The Court of Cassation accepted the defence lawyers’ argument that ‘Aida Nour al-Din Abu-Zeid was heavily drugged when she confessed. The Court decided that she should remain in detention until her retrial.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

‘Aida Nour al-Din Mohammad Abu-Zeid was sentenced to death on 11 March 1998 by the Alexandria criminal court after being found guilty of allegedly killing one patient and attempting to kill others.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters in Arabic, English, French or in your own language:

- welcoming the decision of the Court of Cassation to grant ‘Aida Nour al-

Din Abu-Zeid a retrial but urging that she be guaranteed a fair trial in accordance with recognized international standards.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Mohammed Hosni Mubarak

President of the Arab Republic of Egypt

‘Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt

Telegrams:President Mubarak, Cairo, Egypt

Telexes:93794 WAZRA UN

Faxes:+ 202 390 1998

Salutation:Your Excellency

His Excellency Faruq Sayf al-Nasr

Minister of Justice

Ministry of Justice

Midan Lazoghly, Cairo, Egypt

Faxes:+ 202 355 8103

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Ms Nayla Gabr

The Human Rights Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Corniche al-Nil, Cairo, Egypt

Faxes:+ 202 574 9533

Mr Raga’ al-Arabi

Public Prosecutor

Dar al-Qadha al-’Ali

Ramses Street

Cairo Egypt

Faxes:+ 202 577 4716

Salutation: Dear Mr Raga’ al-’Arabi

Dr Fathi Sorour

Speaker

The People’s Assembly

Magles al-Sha’ab Street, Cairo, Egypt

and to diplomatic representatives of Egypt accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 28 August 1998.