[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA

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For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa24711.pdf

UA 247/11
Country: Yemen
Issue Date: 16 August 2011

YEMENI MAN AT RISK OF EXECUTION
Ahmed Omar al-Abbadi al-Markashi, a Yemeni security guard, had his death 
sentence upheld by the
Court of Appeal in June 2011. If his death sentence is approved by the Supreme 
Court and then the
Vice President, he will be at imminent risk of execution.

Ahmed al-Markashi was sentenced to death for murder by a court in the Yemeni 
capital, Sana'a, on 11
June 2010. On 25 June 2011, the Court of Appeal upheld his death sentence. He 
was not brought to the
Court of Appeal for the session, even though he was being held in Sana'a's 
Central Prison at the
time. Neither he nor his lawyers were informed of the session in advance.

Ahmed al-Markashi was a security guard at the house of Hisham Bashraheel, the 
chief editor of
al-Ayyam newspaper, in Sana'a. In February 2008, armed men reportedly shot at 
Hisham Bashraheel's
house in Sana'a and security guards returned fire. One of the armed men was 
killed and another
injured. Ahmed al-Markashi was arrested in connection with this incident on 14 
February 2008, and
later charged with murder.

Al-Ayyam newspaper has been effectively silenced by the authorities since 30 
April 2009, when
authorities confiscated copies of it from newsstands and distribution points 
and in early May
security forces physically blockaded the offices of al-Ayyam to prevent 
distribution of the paper.
Al-Ayyam was believed to have been targeted solely because of its coverage of 
the protests in the
southern part of the country.

Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:
- Urging the Vice President, in his position as acting President, to commute 
Ahmed Omar al-Abbadi
al-Markashi's death sentence, and those of all others facing execution;
- Reminding the authorities that they should act in accordance with 
international standards for fair
trial, including the UN Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of 
those facing the death
penalty, which state that capital punishment may only be imposed after a fair 
trial in which the
defendant is provided with "adequate legal assistance at all stages of the 
proceedings";
- Urging the Vice President, in his position as acting President, to establish 
a moratorium on
executions, with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 27 SEPTEMBER 2011 TO:

Vice President
His Excellency Abd Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi
Office of The President
Sana'a
REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
Fax: 011 967 1 274 147 (please keep trying)
Salutation: Your Excellency

Attorney General
His Excellency Ali Ahmed Nasser al-Awash
Attorney General's Office
Sana'a
REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
Fax: 011 967 1 374 412
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

Ministry of Human Rights
Sana'a
REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
Email: mshr at y.net.ye

Ambassador Abdulwahab A. Al Hajjri
Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
2319 Wyoming Ave NW
Washington DC 20008
Ph: 1 202 965 4760
Fax: 1 202 337 2017
Email: ambassador at yemenembassy.org
counselor at yemenembassy.org

Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Office if sending appeals after the 
above date.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Amnesty International has long-standing concerns about the use of the death 
penalty in Yemen,
particularly as death sentences are often passed after proceedings which fall 
short of international
standards for fair trial.

In 2009, at least 53 people were sentenced to death and at least 30 people were 
executed. In 2010,
at least 53 people were executed. Hundreds of people are believed to be under 
sentence of death.

Amnesty International acknowledges the right and responsibility of governments 
to bring to justice
those suspected of recognizably criminal offenses, but is unconditionally 
opposed to the death
penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment, 
and as a violation of
the right to life.

Name: Ahmed Omar al-Abbadi al-Markashi (m)
Issue (s): Imminent execution

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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/uan
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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