Juvenile offender executed in Gaza
Hani Abu Alian was executed by the Hamas de facto administration at the Jawazat police compound in Gaza City. He was executed despite serious concerns about the fairness of his trial, including allegations he was tortured to “confess”. Furthermore, he was under 18 at the time of one of his alleged crimes. Another man known only as “A.Z.G.” could be executed at any time.
Hani Abu Alian was sentenced to death in 2012 for two alleged murders and the rape of a child. He was executed on 2 October 2013 and became the third person to be executed in Gaza this year.
One of the lawyers working on his case described his hanging as “a legal, moral, political, and religious crisis. When a government executes so many people, and without regard for the law, it means the country is rotten.”
Other similar cases include that of another individual known only as A.Z.G, from al-Shati’ refugee camp, who had his death sentence upheld by the Court of appeal on 15 December, along with that of another individual known as “F.A.”
F.A. is currently being held in detention as the final appeal against his execution proceeds before the Military High Court. He was sentenced to death for “collaboration with an enemy entity" by the Central Military Court in Gaza City on 24 March 2013.
His lawyer told Amnesty International that F.A. claims to have been hung by his wrists and ankles and beaten during interrogation in order to force a “confession”.
Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:
* Condemning the execution of Hani Abu Alian, emphasizing that sentencing juvenile offenders to death is a breach of Palestinian and international law and that his sentence was imposed despite allegations that his confession was forced;
* Urging the authorities not to execute A.Z.G., F.A., or anyone else sentenced to death in Gaza, and to ensure that trials for capital crimes comply with all internationally recognized standards on the use of the death penalty;
* Calling on them to immediately commute all death sentences and to impose a moratorium on executions;
* Expressing concern at the allegations of torture against Hani Abu Alian and F.A. and urging them to carry out prompt, independent and impartial investigations into the claims, bringing anyone found to be responsible to justice in proceedings which meet international standards for fair trial.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 22 NOVEMBER 2013 TO: (Time difference = GMT + 2 hrs / BST + 3 hrs)
Minister of Interior and National Security
[Hamas administration in Gaza]
Fathi Hamad
Fax: 00972 8 288 1994 / 970 8 288 1994
Send faxes before 2pm Palestine time (GMT+2)
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency
Attorney General
[Hamas administration in Gaza]
Isma’il Jaber
Fax: 00972 8 288 6885
Send faxes before 2pm Palestine time (GMT+2)
Email: [email protected] ;
Salutation: Dear Attorney General
Prime Minister
[Hamas administration in Gaza]
Isma’il Abd al-Salam Ahmad Haniyeh
Fax: 00972 8 264 1150
Send faxes before 2pm Palestine time (GMT+2)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Prof Manuel S Hassassian, Embassy of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, 5 Galena Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 0LT
Email: [email protected] Fax: 020 8563 0058 Tel: 020 8563 0008
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