PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 31/003/2008

24 July 2008

UA 207/08 Imminent execution

YEMEN Ahmed ‘Abdul Salaam ‘Abdullah Qassim (m)

Ahmed ‘Abdul Salaam ‘Abdullah Qassim, whowas sentenced to death in December 2005 for murder, has had all his appeals rejected. Now President ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Saleh must decide whether to ratify his sentence or commute it to a term of imprisonment. Ahmed ‘Abdul Salaam ‘Abdullah Qassim is therefore in imminent danger of execution.

His appeals were rejected by the Court of Appeal in the south-western city of Ta’iz in December 2007 and the Supreme Court in June 2008. Amnesty International has been informed of at least 90 prisoners at risk of execution, including 44 inmates of Ta’iz prison who have exhausted their appeals.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Yemen applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences, including some with no lethal consequences, such as "infringing the independence of the Republic or its unity or territorial integrity," and zina (adultery), often after trials which fall far short of international standards. Amnesty International recognizes the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice those suspected of recognizably criminal offences, but is unconditionally opposed to the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and violation of the right to life.

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

- urging President Saleh to commute Ahmed ‘Abdul Salaam ‘Abdullah Qassim's death sentence, and so prevent him being executed;

- acknowledging that the government has a right to bring to justice those responsible for criminal offences, but expressing unconditional opposition to the death penalty, which has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments;

- urging President Saleh to commute the death sentences of all others facing imminent execution, and establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

APPEALS TO:

President

His Excellency General ´Ali ´Abdullah Saleh

President of the Republic of Yemen

Sana'a

Republic of Yemen

Fax: + 967 127 4147

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice

Dr Ghazi Shaif Al-Aghbari

Ministry of Justice

Sana’a

Republic of Yemen

Fax: +967 1 222 015

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Interior

His Excellency Mutaher al-Masri

Ministry of Interior

Sana'a

Republic of Yemen

Fax: + 967 1 332 511

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Human Rights

Her Excellency Houda ‘Ali ‘Abdullatif al-Baan

Ministry for Human Rights

Sana’a

Republic of Yemen

Faxes: + 967 1 444 838

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Yemen accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 4 September 2008.