URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA
To learn about recent Urgent Action successes and updates, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/iar/success
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16 June 2010
Further information on UA 118/10 (18 May 2010) - Imminent execution
USA (Texas) David Lee Powell
David Lee Powell was executed in the US state of Texas on 15 June for the murder of a police officer committed in May 1978. He had been on death row for more than half of his life.
Officer Ralph Ablanedo was shot dead in the state capital, Austin, in May 1978. David Powell was convicted of his murder in October 1978. In 1989, the US Supreme Court overturned the conviction and death sentence. David Powell was retried in 1991 and again sentenced to death. In 1994, this sentence was overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In 1999, a new sentencing hearing was held and he was again sentenced to death.
On 11 June 2010, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted against clemency, unanimously rejecting the powerful case presented to it of David Powell’s rehabilitation. A psychiatrist who has treated David Powell in recent years has said “David Powell has an exceptional ability to reach out and educate others. He can trace his own untoward footsteps and paths with great clarity and wisdom." A dozen death row inmates have said that David Powell had given then positive guidance. For further information see Amnesty International report People can change. Will Texas? http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR51/048/2010/en ).
Governor Rick Perry declined to intervene to stop the execution. Last-minute appeals to the courts were unsuccessful.
About 150 former and current Austin police officers supportive of the execution traveled to Huntsville where they waited outside the prison as the lethal injection was carried out.
David Powell becomes the 13th person to be executed in Texas this year and the 28th to be put to death in the USA as a whole during 2010. His execution brings to 1,216 the number of people killed in US execution chambers since judicial killing resumed there in 1977. Texas accounts for 460 of these executions, 221 of which have been carried out since Governor Perry took office in 2001.
No further action by the Urgent Action Network is requested. David Powell’s lawyer has expressed his appreciation for Amnesty International’s efforts in this case.
URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA
To learn about recent Urgent Action successes and updates, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/iar/success
----------------------------------
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa10710.pdf
Note: Please write on behalf of these persons even though you may not have
received the original UA when issued on May 5, 2010. Thanks!
16 June 2010
Further information on UA 107/10 (5 May 2010) – Prisoners of Conscience/Arbitrary detention
IRAN Mohammad Ali Shirzadi (m)
Ja’far Panahi (m)
Iranian filmmaker Ja'far Panahi was released on bail on 25 May. However, filmmaker Mohammad Ali Shirzadi is still held in Evin Prison in Tehran.
Ja'far Panahi was released on 25 May after payment of bail equivalent to about US$200,000. His case has been referred to a Revolutionary Court, and he may still face trial. If convicted and imprisoned on the basis of his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression, Amnesty International would consider him to be a prisoner of conscience.
Ja’far Panahi was arrested on 1 March. He had begun a hunger strike on 16 May, after an interrogation session during which he was accused of filming in his cell. Prison guards reportedly threatened to arrest his family to punish him. On 19 May, he phoned his family and read them a letter he had written to the authorities and asked his family to publish the text of the letter. In it, he demanded to be allowed visits from his family and to receive assurance that they were safe; to be allowed to meet with his lawyer and finally to be released until his trial. He vowed to continue his hunger strike until his demands were met. On 21 May, he was allowed visits by his family and his lawyer, and met Tehran's Prosecutor, who announced that his case would be reviewed, and he was released four days later.
Another filmmaker, Mohammad Ali Shirzadi, is still held in Evin prison. His lawyer, Farideh Gheyrat, has not been allowed to meet with him and has not been granted access to his file.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Ja'far Panahi is a well-known film director who has made internationally-acclaimed films such as The White Balloon and The Circle. He is also a peace activist who is a member of the National Peace Council in Iran, a group set up in July 2008 on the initiative of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, an NGO established by Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi and other prominent lawyers. The National Peace Council has 85 representatives from different social and ethnic groups and professions. Its aims are "creating and strengthening the basis for peace; preventing a military attack; abolishing the imposed sanctions and preventing any additional sanctions; ending the situation of 'Neither war, Nor Peace.'"
Ja'far Panahi was previously arrested in July 2009 during a gathering at a cemetery in Tehran of people mourning the death of Neda Agha Soltan, a young woman killed by someone believed to be a member of the Basij militia during a protest against the outcome of the 2009 presidential election. He was later released, but subsequently banned from traveling abroad. The ban prevented him from attending the 2009 Berlin Film Festival, in which he had been due to participate. After his arrest in March 2010, he was invited to participate in the jury of the Cannes Film Festival between 12 and 23 May 2010. During the festival, an empty chair was set aside for him as a sign of protest at his continuing detention (see: Iran must allow detained filmmaker to appear at Cannes, 11 May 2010, http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/iran-must-allow-detained-filmmaker-appear-cannes-2010-05-11).
During his detention, Iranian officials said that he had been arrested in connection with his alleged filming of an unauthorized anti-government film about the election. His family denied he had been doing anything illegal, stating that he had been filming in his own house and the film had not been against the government. In a letter from prison read out at the Cannes Film Festival, Ja’far Panahi also denied making an anti-government film.
Mohammad Ali Shirzadi is a member of the now-banned Association in Defense of Prisoners' Rights, founded by prominent human rights defender Emadeddin Baghi. He was arrested by five unidentified men on 4 January 2010. His family had no news about his whereabouts for 40 days before learning that he was in Evin prison. They have been able to visit him. His family believe his arrest may have been linked to an interview he filmed around two years ago, between Emadeddin Baghi and Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. The film was shown on BBC Persian TV after Grand Ayatollah Montazeri’s death in December 2009. Emadeddin Baghi was arrested afterwards and has been in detention since (see UA: 05/10 Index: MDE 13/003/2010 and follow-up).
Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, whether “orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media”.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- Calling on the Iranian authorities to drop any charges brought or contemplated against Ja'far Panahi;
- Calling on the Iranian authorities to release Mohammad Ali Shirzadi immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression;
- Urging the authorities to protect Mohammad Ali Shirzadi from torture or other ill-treatment and to grant him immediate and regular access to his family, his lawyers and to any medical care he may need;
APPEALS TO:
Head of the Provincial Judiciary in Tehran
Ali Reza Avaei
Karimkhan Zand Avenue
Sana’i Avenue, Corner of Alley 17, No. 152
Tehran,
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Email: avaei@Dadgostary-tehran.ir
Salutation: Dear Mr Avaei
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh
(Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 1316814737
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Email: Via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx
(First starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name; third: your email address)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Director, Human Rights Headquarters
Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri
Tehran 1316814737
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Fax: 011 98 21 3390 4986
Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (In subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)
Salutation: Dear Mr Larijani
Iranian Interests Section
2209 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington DC 20007
Phone: 202 965 4990
Fax: 202 965 1073
Email: requests@daftar.org
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 28 July 2010.
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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.
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA
To learn about recent Urgent Action successes and updates, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/iar/success
----------------------------------
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa13210.pdf
16 June 2010
UA 132/10 Fear for Safety
MEXICO shelter residents and staff (f)
Heavily armed policemen forced their way into a Mexican women's shelter on 9 June. This has threatened the safety and security of the women inside, many of whom were hiding there from violent partners.
At 12.30 on 9 June, 14 men, including six heavily-armed municipal policemen and a state court official, arrived at a shelter for the protection of women at grave risk due to extreme violence (Sin Violencia, Refugio para Mujeres en situacion de riesgo por violencia extrema), in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, northern Mexico. The men demanded entry to the shelter and showed staff an official court document, which ordered public forces to search for a young girl who they said had been kidnapped. The document did not refer to the women’s shelter. When the staff at the shelter refused to allow the men entry, because the shelter's protocols on protection and confidentiality do not allow men to enter the premises, they were repeatedly threatened. One of the policemen pointed at his gun and said to the coordinator of the shelter, “You’re going to regret this, you’ll get yourself into trouble, it’s better if you cooperate or we will push down the doors and break the locks” (se van a arrepentir, se meteran en problemas, es mejor que cooperen, y vamos a tirar las puertas y a violar las chapas”).
Following repeated threats and fearing for their lives, the staff eventually allowed the men into the shelter. The armed men violently searched the shelter, turning over furniture and searching under beds. The men left when they realized that the young girl they were searching for was not being held at the shelter.
Many of the survivors of physical and sexual violence under protection at the shelter have fled violent partners, who include several municipal policemen. The entry of armed policemen into the shelter breached their confidentiality and jeopardized the security of the women at the shelter, exposing them to future reprisals.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
There are extremely high levels of violent crime and impunity in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua state, including high levels of violence against women. The municipal and state authorities have consistently failed to take effective action to combat violence against women and improve the safety of women at risk. Women’s rights organizations have campaigned for many years for justice and safety for women and have established some services for women so that survivors of violence can receive medical and psychological assistance in a place of safety. The confidentiality and security of these facilities is essential in order to guarantee the safety of the women and staff.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- Calling on the authorities to take urgent measures to reinstate high security protection measures for the shelter, its staff and the women and children who are currently staying at the shelter according to their wishes;
- Calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the forced entry into the shelter and reports of intimidation during the search;
- Urging the authorities to respect the confidentiality and security of women’s shelter for the protection of victims of violence by avoiding any further attempts to enter women’s shelters which contravene the shelter’s protocols.
APPEALS TO:
Governor of Chihuahua State
Lic. José Reyes Baeza Terrazas
Gobernador del Estado de Chihuahua,
Palacio de Gobierno,
Primer piso, C. Aldama #901, Col. Centro,
Chihuahua, Estado de Chihuahua, C.P. 31000, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 614 429 3300 (then dial extension 11066 when prompted)
Salutation: Dear Governor
Mayor of Ciudad Juárez
Lic. José Reyes Ferriz
Presidente Municipal de Ciudad Juárez
Unidad Administrativa Benito Juárez.
Primer piso, ala norte.
Av. Francisco Villa # 950 Norte, Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 656 615 0690
Salutation: Dear Mayor
COPIES TO:
Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres
Av. Juarez no. 4107/B
Chihuahua, Chih, MEXICO
Email: cedehm@prodigy.net.mx
Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana
Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20006
Phone: 202 728 1600
Fax: 1 202 728 1698
Email: mexembusa@sre.gob.mx
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 28 July 2010.
----------------------------------
Tip of the Month:
Write as soon as you can. Try to write as close as possible
to the date a case is issued.
** POSTAGE RATES **
Within the United States:
$0.28 - Postcards
$0.44 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)
To Canada:
$0.75 - Postcards
$0.75 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)
To Mexico:
$0.79 - Postcards
$0.79 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)
To all other destination countries:
$0.98 - Postcards
$0.98 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)
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@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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