[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA


26 November 2008

UA 324/08 Imminent execution

SAUDI ARABIA             'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari (m)

Amnesty International has received information that 'Abdullah Fandi
al-Shammari is due to be executed within the next 20 days. According to
an appeal issued by his family, his execution was scheduled for around 15
November but, following an intervention by Crown Prince Sultan bin 'Abdul
Aziz, he was granted a 30-day reprieve to enable his family a last chance
to seek pardon from the family of the person he was convicted of killing.

'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari's execution is said to be planned to take
place in the city of Hail, in the northern governorate of the same name,
where he is imprisoned. He was sentenced to death for a killing committed
in 1981 or 1982. Amnesty International believes he was unfairly tried and
is appealing to King 'Abdullah to commute the sentence. As head of the
Supreme Judicial Council, the King has the final decision on whether to
ratify the sentence.

In 1988, 'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari was tried before a court of first
instance in Hail and found guilty of manslaughter, on the basis that he
did not intend to kill the victim. He was ordered to pay blood money to
the family of the victim. The ruling was confirmed on appeal in 1989, but
he was later released. In 1990 the Supreme Judicial Council returned the
case to the court of first instance for a retrial and he was subsequently
rearrested, retried for the same crime and sentenced to death in 1992.
His case was heard and determined in one session; he had no access to the
file or to any legal assistance, and was not able to appeal against the
sentence before it was ratified by the Court of Cassation.

According to 'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari's court file, the facts of the
case presented by the prosecution in the second trial differed from those
in the first. For example, in the second trial he was accused of using an
iron bar when he attacked the victim, while in the first trial it was
reported that he used a wooden stick.

'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari's case is believed to have been raised with
the authorities by Saudi Arabia's National Human Rights Association.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences.
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:
- welcoming the intervention by Crown Prince Sultan bin 'Abdul Aziz to
grant 'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari a 30-day reprieve;
- calling for the execution of 'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari to be stayed
and the death sentence to be commuted;
- calling on the authorities to investigate any reported irregularity in
'Abdullah Fandi al-Shammari's case, including the reported variations in
the facts, and ensure that he is allowed to appeal against the decision;
- acknowledging the right of the government to bring to justice those
responsible for criminal offenses, but expressing unconditional
opposition to the death penalty;
- reminding the authorities of international standards for fair trial in
capital cases, including the right to seek an appeal, pardon or
commutation of the sentence.

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.

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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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