EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: MDE 14/02/92

Distr: UA/SC

25 September 1992

Further information on UA 252/92 (MDE 14/01/92, 3 August 1992) - Death Penalty

IRAQ:Ra'ad Tabra

Mahmud al-Rahmani

Salim Hamra Abd al-Hadi Hamra, 65, former head Baghdad Chamber

of Commerce

Tareq Hamra

Hazem Hamra, 28

Najah Mahdi Saleh Kubba

Qassem 'Arab

Ahmad Malallah

Ahmad Muhyi al-Haj Radi, early 40s

Jassem Mir 'Ali

Taha Hussain al-Gat

Saffar Jamal Abul-Jubn

Mustafa Buniyya

and new executions: 25 other merchants and traders

Amnesty International is gravely concerned about reports of the execution in Iraq of 25 merchants and traders on 17 September 1992. This follows the reported execution of as many as 42 merchants, including those named above, in Baghdad on 26 July 1992, who were said to have been charged with profiteering.

Amnesty International received the names of 40 merchants executed on 26 July and requested the Iraqi authorities to provide details of the charges against them and the legal procedures followed in their cases. The organization also appealed for the commutation of any further death sentences passed but has so far received no response from the authorities.

At present Amnesty International has no details of whether any form of trial had taken place prior to the execution of 25 people on 17 September.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express and airmail letters:

- expressing concern about the reported execution of 42 merchants in Baghdad on 26 July 1992 and further reports of the execution of 25 merchants and traders on 17 September;

- requesting their names, details of the charges against them and of the legal procedures followed in thir cases;

- requesting the names and details of others arrested on similar charges since 25 July, their places of detention and details of any legal procedures being followed in their cases;

- appealing for the commutation of any other death sentences passed.

page 2 of FU 252/92...

APPEALS TO:

H.E. President Saddam Hussain

President of the Republic

Salutation:Your Excellency

H.E. Muhammad Hamza al-Zubaidi

Prime Minister

Salutation:Your Excellency

H.E. Tariq Aziz

Deputy Prime Minister

Salutation:Your Excellency

H.E. Ahmed Hussain

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Salutation:Your Excellency

All appeals should be sent c/o:

His Excellency Nizar Hamdoon

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations

14 East 79th Street

New York, NY 10021, USA

Telegrams:Iraq Permanent Representative, United Nations, New York, NY 10021, USA

Faxes:+1 212 772 1794

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Diplomatic representatives of IRAQ accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 6 November 1992.