Australian Senator Andrew Bartlett have signed the Stop Child Executions petition. Senator Bartlet met the co-founder of the SCE Campaign Nazanin Afshin-Jam at a conference examining the human rights situation in China in the leadup to the Beijing Olympics. The conference was held in Taiwn.

15242.

Senator Andrew Bartlett

Australia

Senator for Queensland

In his personal blog Senator Barlett wrote:  "One other interesting speaker at the conference was a woman from Canada named Nazanin Afshin-Jan. Unlike most of us at the conference, she was not a politician, a lawyer or an academic (although she is a graduate in international relations), which probably helped make her speech seem more focused on practically than some of the others. She is Iranian born, trained in the Canadian Air Force, and has used her profile as a former runner-up in Miss World and a singer and songwriter to campaign on human rights issues. One of her main campaigns is to stop child executions, although the main offender on that issue is Iran, not China, so she didn’t focus on that so much in her speech at this conference. She was also able to end her speech by showing a video of one of her songs , which was rather hard for the rest of us speakers to compete against."


Nazanin Afshin-Jam and SCE Campaign greatly appreciate Senator Andrew Bartlett's support of the Campaign to stop child executions in Iran and worldwide.





About Senator Andrew Barltlett:



Senator Bartlett  has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland since 1997, representing the Australian Democrats. A consistent and vocal campaigner for refugees and asylum seekers, Senator Bartlett is the only Australian parliamentarian to have visited every refugee detention centre in Australia, as well as those on Christmas Island and Nauru (detention centres off the Australian mainland) where he went three times to meet with detainees. Mr. Bartlett has spoken many times on behalf of those living in poverty, as well as the physically and mentally disabled. He also takes a close interest in the environment and animal welfare. He was a strong opponent of Australia's involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. 

"The Iranian Penal Code interprets Sharia law in a way that says a woman’s life is worth half that of a man’s. Under Sharia law, a girl is considered an adult at the age of nine and she is held legally accountable for her actions. The International Covenant on Civic and Political Rights states that you cannot, under any circumstance, execute a minor. The Iranian law bastardizes this and says, “We won’t kill her at nine years old, but we’ll keep her imprisoned until she is 18 and then we will execute her.”
                                                                                            Nazanin Afshin-Jam

To read the full article at Girls without borders visit: http://www.girls-without-borders.org/home/news/54

Girls without Borders is an international initiative for the promotion of women in politics and civil society.

An Appeals Court has confirmed sentences of death on ten individuals in Sudan. At least one of them: Al-Tayeb Abdel Aziz (m),  was a 15 year old the time of the alleged crime. Following is an urgent call by Amnesty International.





URGENT ACTION

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PUBLIC

AI Index: AFR 54/003/2008

UPDATE

19 March 2008



Further Information on UA 302/07 (AFR 54/064/2007, 12 November 2007) Death Penalty



SUDAN


Al-Tayeb Abdel Aziz (m), aged 16
Ishaq Mohammed Sanousi (m), aged 71

Abdel Hay Omar (m)

Mustafa Adam (m)

Mohammed Birgid (m)

Hassan Adam Fadel (m)

Adam Ibrahim (m)

Jamaleddin Isa (m)

Abdel Magid Ali Abdel Magid (m)

Sabir Hassan (m)



On 13 March the Khartoum-North Court of Appeals confirmed the death sentences on 10 people. They were sentenced to death in November for the murder of Mohammed Taha, Editor of al-Wifaq newspaper, in September 2006.



One of those facing execution, Al-Tayeb Abdel Aziz, was 15 years old at the time of the murder. Another of the group, Ishaq Mohammed Sanousi, is thought to be 71 years old. All those sentenced to death said that they had been tortured to confess to the murder and been forced to sign confessions, which were later produced in court. All 10 people retracted their confessions in court, but the Appeal Court accepted the confessions as evidence against them.



The 10 have now appealed to the Supreme Court, where a panel of three judges will hear the appeal. A further appeal is possible to the Constitutional Court, whose final decision has to be ratified by the President.



BACKGROUND INFORMATION



Mohammed Taha was an outspoken newspaper editor who had also angered Islamists after writing an article discussing the ancestry of the Prophet Mohammed, after which he was arrested by the security services. He was also said to have written articles attacking Darfuris.



During their investigation into the murder of Mohammed Taha, police focussed on Darfuris and rounded up 72 people, including women and children. Nearly all those detained said that they were tortured to give information or confessions. Most were released but 19 were brought to trial. During the trial, the judge released eight because they had confessed under duress but failed to release others who also said that they were tortured.



Amnesty International is concerned that the use of torture to extract confessions is built into the Sudanese system of justice by Article 10(i) of the Law of Evidence of 1993, which states that “… evidence is not dismissed solely because it has been obtained through an improper procedure, if the court is satisfied that it is independent and admissible”.



Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally in all situations as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.  The use of the death penalty against child offenders is prohibited under international law. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), both have provisions exempting children under 18 from execution. Sudan has a responsibility to adhere to these international laws.


RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send fresh appeals at this stage, to



- emphasize that the authorities have a right and duty to try those who are reasonably suspected of having committed crimes but defendants must be given fair trials;

- express concern at Article 10(i) of the Law of Evidence of 1993 which states that “… evidence is not dismissed solely because it has been obtained through an improper procedure, if the court is satisfied that it is independent and admissible”, and stress that such a rule is incompatible with international standards which outlaw torture;

- state your opposition to the death penalty which is the ultimate cruel inhuman and degrading punishment and is a violation of the right to life;

- call on the authorities to abide by their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37 of which states that “No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed for offences committed by persons below eighteen years of age”;

- call for the death sentences against the 10 to be overturned;

- call for allegations of torture to be investigated, and any security official who is found to have used torture to be brought to justice.



APPEALS TO:



Abdel Baset Saleh Sabderat

Minister of Justice

Ministry of Justice

PO Box 302

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax:                 011 249 183 770883

Salutation:       Dear Minister



Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed

Minister of the Interior

Ministry of the Interior

PO Box 2793

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax:                 011 249 183 776554 (Please mark it "FAO Minister of Internal Affairs")

Salutation:       Dear Minister



COPIES TO:



Her Excellency Dr. Faiza Hassan TAHA ARMOUSA

Ambassador for the Republic of Sudan

354 Stewart Street

Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8

Fax:                 (613) 235-6880

E-mail:            sudanembassy-canada@rogers.com<mailto:sudanembassy-canada@rogers.com>



Dr Priscilla Joseph

Chair of the Human Rights Committee

National Assembly

Omdurman, Sudan

Fax:                 011 249 187 560 950

Salutation:       Dear Dr Joseph





Your prompt response is valuable and appreciated.

An Appeals Court has confirmed sentences of death on ten individuals in Sudan. At least one of them: Al-Tayeb Abdel Aziz (m),  was a 15 year old the time of the alleged crime. Following is an urgent call by Amnesty International.





URGENT ACTION

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PUBLIC

AI Index: AFR 54/003/2008

UPDATE

19 March 2008



Further Information on UA 302/07 (AFR 54/064/2007, 12 November 2007) Death Penalty



SUDAN


Al-Tayeb Abdel Aziz (m), aged 16
Ishaq Mohammed Sanousi (m), aged 71

Abdel Hay Omar (m)

Mustafa Adam (m)

Mohammed Birgid (m)

Hassan Adam Fadel (m)

Adam Ibrahim (m)

Jamaleddin Isa (m)

Abdel Magid Ali Abdel Magid (m)

Sabir Hassan (m)



On 13 March the Khartoum-North Court of Appeals confirmed the death sentences on 10 people. They were sentenced to death in November for the murder of Mohammed Taha, Editor of al-Wifaq newspaper, in September 2006.



One of those facing execution, Al-Tayeb Abdel Aziz, was 15 years old at the time of the murder. Another of the group, Ishaq Mohammed Sanousi, is thought to be 71 years old. All those sentenced to death said that they had been tortured to confess to the murder and been forced to sign confessions, which were later produced in court. All 10 people retracted their confessions in court, but the Appeal Court accepted the confessions as evidence against them.



The 10 have now appealed to the Supreme Court, where a panel of three judges will hear the appeal. A further appeal is possible to the Constitutional Court, whose final decision has to be ratified by the President.



BACKGROUND INFORMATION



Mohammed Taha was an outspoken newspaper editor who had also angered Islamists after writing an article discussing the ancestry of the Prophet Mohammed, after which he was arrested by the security services. He was also said to have written articles attacking Darfuris.



During their investigation into the murder of Mohammed Taha, police focussed on Darfuris and rounded up 72 people, including women and children. Nearly all those detained said that they were tortured to give information or confessions. Most were released but 19 were brought to trial. During the trial, the judge released eight because they had confessed under duress but failed to release others who also said that they were tortured.



Amnesty International is concerned that the use of torture to extract confessions is built into the Sudanese system of justice by Article 10(i) of the Law of Evidence of 1993, which states that “… evidence is not dismissed solely because it has been obtained through an improper procedure, if the court is satisfied that it is independent and admissible”.



Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally in all situations as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.  The use of the death penalty against child offenders is prohibited under international law. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), both have provisions exempting children under 18 from execution. Sudan has a responsibility to adhere to these international laws.


RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send fresh appeals at this stage, to



- emphasize that the authorities have a right and duty to try those who are reasonably suspected of having committed crimes but defendants must be given fair trials;

- express concern at Article 10(i) of the Law of Evidence of 1993 which states that “… evidence is not dismissed solely because it has been obtained through an improper procedure, if the court is satisfied that it is independent and admissible”, and stress that such a rule is incompatible with international standards which outlaw torture;

- state your opposition to the death penalty which is the ultimate cruel inhuman and degrading punishment and is a violation of the right to life;

- call on the authorities to abide by their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37 of which states that “No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed for offences committed by persons below eighteen years of age”;

- call for the death sentences against the 10 to be overturned;

- call for allegations of torture to be investigated, and any security official who is found to have used torture to be brought to justice.



APPEALS TO:



Abdel Baset Saleh Sabderat

Minister of Justice

Ministry of Justice

PO Box 302

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax:                 011 249 183 770883

Salutation:       Dear Minister



Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed

Minister of the Interior

Ministry of the Interior

PO Box 2793

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax:                 011 249 183 776554 (Please mark it "FAO Minister of Internal Affairs")

Salutation:       Dear Minister



COPIES TO:



Her Excellency Dr. Faiza Hassan TAHA ARMOUSA

Ambassador for the Republic of Sudan

354 Stewart Street

Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8

Fax:                 (613) 235-6880

E-mail:            sudanembassy-canada@rogers.com<>>



Dr Priscilla Joseph

Chair of the Human Rights Committee

National Assembly

Omdurman, Sudan

Fax:                 011 249 187 560 950

Salutation:       Dear Dr Joseph





Your prompt response is valuable and appreciated.

UN News Service:

The Arab Charter on Human Rights contains provisions that do not meet international norms and standards, including the application of the death penalty for children, the treatment of women and non-citizens and the equating of Zionism with racism, the United Nations human rights chief said today.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour issued a statement saying that her office “does not endorse these inconsistencies [and] we continue to work with all stakeholders in the region to ensure the implementation of universal human rights norms.”

The Arab Charter entered into force earlier this month after seven countries ratified the text, prompting Ms. Arbour to release a statement last Thursday in which she noted that while human rights are universal, “regional systems of promotion and protection can further help strengthen the enjoyment of human rights.”

Ms. Arbour said today that throughout the development of the Charter, her office shared concerns with the drafters about the incompatibility of some provisions with international norms and standards.

“These concerns included the approach to death penalty for children and the rights of women and non-citizens. Moreover, to the extent that it equates Zionism with racism, we reiterated that the Arab Charter is not in conformity with General Assembly Resolution 46/86, which rejects that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination.”

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