MDE 31/011/2011

YEMEN

Five men under sentence of death in Yemen were not executed on 6 July as feared. However, they could still be executed at any time as they have exhausted all their appeals, and their death sentences were ratified by the President in 2009.

Yasser Ismail, aged 29, Bashir Ismail, aged 28, ‘Arif Far’i, aged 27, Mubarak Ghalib, aged 25, and Murad Ghalib, aged 26, were sentenced to death in July 2006 for the murder of two men. All five men are related to each other. They are held at the Central Prison in the city of Ta’izz. The Appeal Court in Ta’izz rejected their appeals against their death sentences in March 2008, and the Supreme Court did the same in June 2009. The President ratified their sentences later that year.

Amnesty International obtained information indicating that the five men were due to be executed on 6 July. It later learnt that several prisoners in Tai’zz prison had protested against the execution by refusing to take food on several occasions and that the executions were postponed on 6 July, apparently on the orders of a security official in order to avoid further protests and unrest in the prison.

The five men continue to be at imminent risk of execution as, although the executions were delayed, they could be rescheduled again at any time.

There are hundreds of people under sentence of death in Yemen. In 2010, at least 53 people were executed.

Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:

* Welcoming the fact that Yasser Ismail, Bashir Ismail, ‘Arif Far’i, Mubarak Ghalib and Murad Ghalib were not executed on 6 July, but urging the authorities to halt their executions indefinitely;

* Urging the Vice President, in his position as acting President, to commute their death sentences, and those of all others facing execution;

* Reminding the authorities that they are bound by international standards for fair trial in capital cases, including the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence;

* 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 17 AUGUST TO:

Vice President

His Excellency Abd Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi

Office of The President

Sana’a, Republic of Yemen

Fax: +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: +967 1 374 412

Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

Ministry of Human Rights

Sana’a, Republic of Yemen

Fax: + 967 1 444 833

Email: mshr@y.net.ye

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

JEMENS AMBASSAD

NASSAULAAN 2A

NL-2514 JS HAAG, NEDERLÄNDERNA

FAX + 31 70-356 33 12

E-post: yemenembassy@planet.nl

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

This is the third update of UA 297/09. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE31/016/2009 http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/mde31/009/2011 and http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE31/010/2011/en

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 offences, 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.

Names: Yasser Ismail (m), Bashir Ismail (m), ‘Arif Far’i (m), Mubarak Ghalib (m), and Murad Ghalib (m)

Gender m/f: m