SexconUrgent Action 11-30-10

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/uaa24610.pdf


30 November 2010

UA 246/10 Death Penalty/ Risk of Imminent Execution/ Legal Concern

IRAQ

Sa'doun Shakir
Mizban Khuder Hadi
‘Aziz Salih al-Noaman

A former Minister of Interior and two former top officials under Saddam Hussein were sentenced to death on 29 November and could be executed within 30 days if their sentences are confirmed by the appeal court. Amnesty International has stressed that the death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights and should never be used, whatever the gravity of the crime.

Sa'doun Shakir, former Interior Minister of Iraq in the 1980's, was sentenced to death on 29 November by the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal (SICT), together with Mizban Khuder Hadi and ‘Aziz Salih al-Noaman formerly senior officials under Saddam Hussain and members of regional Ba'ath party commands. All three were convicted of participating in the killings and displacement of Faili Kurds (Shi'a Kurds) during the Iran –Iraq war between 1980 and 1988. If their sentences are confirmed on appeal, they are likely to be executed by hanging within 30 days.

Sa'doun Shakir was previously sentenced to death by the SICT on 26 October, after he and Tariq Aziz were convicted in another trial of participating in the elimination of Shi'a religious parties under Saddam Hussain. Mizban Khuder Hadi was also previously sentenced to death on 1 August after the SICT convicted him on charges related to the deliberate drying of the southern marshes area and other offenses.

Sa'adoun Shakir was arrested by US forces in April 2003 and has been imprisoned since then. Before being made Minister of Interior he headed Iraq's Intelligence Service. He left politics in 1990 due to deteriorating health.

Amnesty International has previously questioned the fairness of trials before the SICT, which was established to try Saddam Hussain and others accused of responsibility for the crimes committed during his rule. In particular, the SICT has been subject to political interference, undermining its independence.

The death penalty was suspended for a time after the US-led invasion of Iraq but restored in August 2004. Since then, hundreds of people have been sentenced to death and many have been executed. Amnesty International considers the death penalty to be a violation of the right to life and the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- Urging that the death sentences imposed on Sa'doun Shakir, Mizban Khuder Hadi, and ‘Aziz Salih al-Noaman are commuted if they are confirmed by the appeal court;
- Recognizing that governments have an obligation to bring to justice those responsible for serious crimes but insisting that the death penalty is a violation of the right to life and the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment, and should not be applied even for crimes of the greatest magnitude;
- Calling on the authorities to commute all death sentences and declare a moratorium on executions.

APPEALS TO:

President
His Excellency Jalal TalabaniPresident of the Republic of Iraq
Convention Centre (Qasr al-Ma'aridh)
Baghdad,
IRAQ
Salutation: His Excellency

Prime Minister
His Excellency Nuri Kamil al-Maliki Prime Minister
Convention Centre (Qasr al-Ma'aridh)
Baghdad,
IRAQ
Salutation: His Excellency

COPIES TO:

Minister of Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Hoshyar Zebari
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Convention Center (Qasr al-Ma'aridh)
Baghdad,
IRAQ

Ambassador Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida'ie
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
3421 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington DC 20007
Email: amboffice@iraqiembassy.org
Fax: 1 202 333 1129
Phone: 1 202 742 1600 EXT 136

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 11 January 2011.

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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
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Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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