PUBLICAI Index: MDE 16/006/2001

UA 210/01Death penalty22 August 2001

JORDANKhader Jaber (m)

Mubarak Suleiman (m)

Yusef ‘Ayed Smadi (m)

‘Imad ‘Ayed Smadi (m)

The four men named above were sentenced to death on 19 August, by an exceptional nine-member panel of judges from the Court of Cassation. The judgement is “irreversible”, and no appeal can be made against it. Now the men’s only hope is the King, who still has the power to overturn the sentences, which have been sent to him for ratification; if he approves the sentences they may be executed at any time.

All were members of the ‘Udwan Mills Gang, who were accused of some 230 crimes, including murder and kidnap, committed in the ‘Udwan Mills area, northeast of the capital, Amman. They were convicted of murdering four people and the attempted murder of five others. The trial process lasted nine years.

They were among 10 alleged members of the gang sentenced to death for rape and murder in May 1995. Five were executed in July that year, but five appealed successfully to the Court of Cassation, on the grounds that the trial court had ignored their claims that they had been convicted on the basis of confessions made under duress. In October 1998 the trial court ruled that the men had not been tortured, and returned the case to the Court of Cassation, which sentenced one man to 20 years’ imprisonment, but upheld the death sentences against the four men named above.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Amnesty International does not in any way condone violent crime, but opposes the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Capital punishment has never been shown to have a unique deterrent effect and a death sentence is irrevocable.

At least two people have been executed in Jordan this year.

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

- expressing sympathy for the victims of violent crimes and their families and acknowledging that governments must bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice, but expressing unconditional opposition to the death penalty, which has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments, and which is brutalizing to all involved;

- urging the King to commute the death sentence passed on Khader Jaber, Mubarak Suleiman, Yusef ‘Ayed Smadi and ‘Imad ‘Ayed Smadi;

- urging that no more no executions be carried out in Jordan and that the government work towards abolishing the death penalty.

APPEALS TO:

His Majesty King ‘Abdallah bin Hussein

Office of H.M. the King

Royal Palace

Amman

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Telegrams:King ‘Abdallah bin Hussein, Amman, Jordan

Faxes:+ 962 6 463 4755

Salutation:Your Majesty

Dr Fayez Tarawneh

Chief of the Royal Court

PO Box 80

Amman

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Fax:+ 962 6 463 1452

Salutation:Dear Dr Tarawneh

COPIES TO:

Her Majesty Queen Rania

President of the Royal Commission on Human Rights

Office of her Majesty the Queen

Royal Palace

Amman

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Salutation:Your Majesty

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 4 October 2001.