[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
        - From Amnesty International USA

        Note: Please write on behalf of these persons even though you may
not have received the original UA when issued on November 16, 2007.
Thanks!

        07 February 2008

        Further Information on UA 309/07 (16 November 2007) Imminent
execution

        SAUDI ARABIA

        Sheikh Mastan (alias Mohammed Salim) (m) aged 30, married with
one child
        Hamza Abu Bakir, (m) aged 47, married with four children

        The two men named above, both Indian nationals, are at risk
        of imminent execution. There has been an upsurge in the
        number of people executed in Saudi Arabia since January
        2008. At least 25 people have been executed since 8 January;
        eight of them for drug related offenses and the rest for
        murder and armed robbery.

        Sheikh Mastan and Hamza Abu Bakir are currently detained in
        al-Dammam Prison in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
        They were arrested in January 2004 on charges of drug
        possession.

        In June 2006, they were convicted and sentenced to death by
        a court in al-Dammam. However, they had no legal
        representation. Very little is known about their trial
        except that their convictions and sentences are said to have
        been upheld on appeal, meaning that they could be executed
        at any time.

        They are reported to have been visited only once since their
        arrest and that was by a representative of the Indian
        Consulate on 29 May 2007.

        BACKGROUND INFORMATION
        Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of
        offenses. Court proceedings fall far short of international
        standards for fair trial. Defendants are rarely allowed
        formal representation by a lawyer, and in many cases are not
        informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them.
        They may be convicted solely on the basis of confessions
        obtained under duress or deception.

        RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as
possible:
        - urging the King to halt the execution of Sheikh Mastan and
Hamza Abu Bakir;
        - appealing to the King to commute the death sentences of
        Sheikh Mastan and Hamza Abu Bakir and all those on death row
        in Saudi Arabia as a matter of urgency, with a view to the
        abolition of the death penalty;
        - seeking clarification of the steps being taken to enable
        Sheikh Mastan, Hamza Abu Bakir and others to exercise
        effectively the rights to judicial review and to seek a
        pardon;
        -expressing concern at the increasing number of executions in
Saudi Arabia.

        APPEALS TO:
        King Abdullah Bin 'Abdul 'Aziz Al-Saud
        The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
        Office of His Majesty The King
        Royal Court
        Riyadh
        Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
        Fax (via Ministry of the Interior):
        011 966 1 403 1185
        Salutation: Your Majesty

        His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin 'Abdul 'Aziz Al-Saud
        Minister of the Interior
        Ministry of the Interior
        P.O. Box 2933
        Airport Road
        Riyadh 11134
        Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
        Fax: 011 966 1 403 1185
        Salutation: Your Royal Highness

        His Royal Highness Prince Saud al-Faisal bin 'Abdul 'Aziz Al-Saud
        Minister of Foreign Affairs
        Ministry of Foreign Affairs
        Nasseriya Street
        Riyadh 11124
        Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
        Fax: 011 966 1 403 0645
        Salutation: Your Royal Highness

        COPIES TO:
        Ambassador Adel A. Al-Jubeir
        Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
        601 New Hampshire Ave. NW
        Washington DC 20037
        Fax: 1 202 944 3113
        Email: info at saudiembassy.net


        PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
        Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals
after 20 March 2008.

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        Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement
        that promotes and defends human rights.

        This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including
        contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
        Thank you for your help with this appeal.

        Urgent Action Network
        Amnesty International USA
        600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl
        Washington DC 20003
        Email: uan at aiusa.org
        http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
        Phone: 202.544.0200
        Fax: 202.675.8566

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        END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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