PUBLICAI Index: MDE 16/001/2001

EXTRA 26/01Forcible return / fear of torture / fear of execution

12 April 2001

JORDAN/IRAQ‘Abd al-Ridha Jazi’ al-Ibrahimi, aged 51

An Iraqi man, who has been living in Jordan since 1983, is at risk of being forcibly returned to Iraq, where he faces torture or execution.

‘Abd al-Ridha Jazi’ al-Ibrahimi was arrested on 2 April. He is being held at the Immigration & Borders Department in the capital, Amman. His family has been told that he will be sent back to Iraq on 14 April.

‘Abd al-Ridha Jazi’ al-Ibrahimi deserted from the Iraqi army in 1983 during the Iraq-Iran war. He fled to Jordan and entered the country on a forged Egyptian passport. He was arrested by the Jordanian authorities in 1996, apparently because of an application for Jordanian citizenship, which he had made in 1995. He was detained for about 20 days and released on bail. The charges against him were dropped when he benefited from an amnesty in 1999.

After ‘Abd al-Ridha Jazi’ fled from Iraq, the Iraqi authorities began constantly harassing his family about his whereabouts. His wife and 4 of his children joined him in Jordan in 1995. However, one of his sons has reportedly been barred from leaving Iraq.

Desertion from the Iraqi armed forces at time of war is punishable by death. Amnesty International fears that ‘Abd al-Ridha Jazi’ al-Ibrahimi may be at risk of serious human rights violations, should he be forcibly returned to Iraq.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In Iraq the death penalty is imposed for a wide range of criminal and political offences. Over the years, the scope of the death penalty has been further expanded through decrees passed by the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), Iraq’s highest executive body. Hundreds of people, including political opponents and army officers, are reportedly executed every year.

Torture and ill-treatment is also systematic and widespread in Iraq, despite its prohibition under the Iraqi Constitution and under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Anti-

government political suspects are especially at risk, and are routinely tortured or ill-treated in custody. Torture is used as a punishment or to extract information, and victims have no access to lawyers and relatives.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters in or your own language:

- urging the Jordanian authorities to ensure that ‘Abd a-Ridha Jazi’ al-

Ibrahimi is not returned to Iraq, where he is likely to face serious human rights violations.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency ‘Ali Abu Ragheb

Prime Minister and Minister of Defence

Office of the Prime Minister

PO Box 1577

Amman

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Faxes:+ 962 6 464 2520

Salutation: Your Excellency

His Excellency Dr. ‘Awad Khleifat

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

Ministry of the Interior

PO Box 100

Amman

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Faxes:+ 962 6 560 6908

Salutation:Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Royal Commission for Human Rights

Royal Palace

Amman

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Faxes:+ 962 6 463 4755

and to diplomatic representatives of Jordan accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 12 May 2001.