PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 21/008/2005

29 July 2005

Further Information on UA 160/05 (MDE 21/006/2005, 13 June 2005; MDE 21/007/2005, 24 June 2005) Fear of imminent execution

PALESTINIAN Some 30 Prisoners on Death Row

AUTHORITY (PA)

Killed: Ra’ei Khalil al-Mughrabi (m) aged 32

On 27 July 2005, Ra’ei Khalil al-Mughrabi from Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip was executed by hanging at Gaza central prison. He had been sentenced to death by a criminal court for murder in 2001. This is the fifth execution to be carried out since the Palestinian Authority (PA) resumed executions last month after a three year de facto moratorium.

This latest execution increases Amnesty International’s concern that some 30 other death row prisoners are at imminent risk of execution. These prisoners were sentenced to death by courts other than the State Security Court and will not have their cases reviewed. On 22 June, PA President Mahmoud Abbas had ordered that those who had been sentenced to death by the State Security Court be retried.

Ten days earlier, on 12 June, PA President Mahmoud Abbas had authorized the execution of four prisoners, as he has to ratify all death sentences before they can be carried out. These were the first executions to becarried out by the PA since August 2002 and afterwards PA officials indicated that further executions would take place.

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

- urging PA President Abbas not to ratify any more death sentences, regardless of what court imposed the sentences;

- urging that all those who were sentenced to death by the State Security Court or in unfair trials by other courts be re-tried in compliance with international standards for fair trial;

- urging that all death sentences be commuted;

- noting that, while recognizing the PA's right and responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of recognizably criminal offences, Amnesty International is unconditionally opposed to the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate violation of the right to life, and pointing out that no convincing evidence has ever been produced that the death penalty is a more effective deterrent than any other punishment.

APPEALS TO: (As the postal service is unreliable please send faxes and/or emails)

President

PresidentMahmoud Abbas

Office of the President

Palestinian Authority

Fax: +972 8 282 2365 (If someone answers ask for a fax tone)

Salutation: Dear President

Minister of Justice

Farid al-Jallad

Ministry of Justice

Palestinian Authority

Fax: +972 8 2829286/ + 972 8 282 9197/ + 972 2 240 9472

Email: diwan@hally.net

Salutation: Dear Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Nasser al-Qudwa

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Palestinian Authority

Fax: + 972 8 286 8971/ + 972 2 240 3772

Email: mofaweb@gov.ps

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of the Palestinian Authority accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 9 September 2005.