Pakistani at imminent risk of execution despite chronic mental illness
50-year-old Imdad Ali was sentenced to death in 2008. In 2012 he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia – described as a ‘chronic and disabling psychiatric illness’.
In Pakistan it is illegal to execute anyone who suffers from mental illness. But the state plans to hang him at dawn on Wednesday.
With all his appeals exhausted, Imdad’s only hope could be mercy from Pakistan’s President.
Text HALT + Yr name to 70505* to demand he stops this execution before it’s too late.
(e.g. HALT John Smith)
Appeals rejected
On diagnosing Imdad, the head of psychiatry at Nishtar Hospital described his condition as ‘a chronic and disabling psychiatric illness’ that ‘impairs the person’s rational thinking and decision making capabilities.’
International law clearly prohibits the use of the death penalty on people with mental or intellectual disabilities. But at Imdad’s appeal hearing on 20 October, Pakistan’s Supreme Court made it clear that it does not believe his paranoid schizophrenia is enough of a reason not to go ahead with the execution.
In fact, at that hearing they ruled there was no evidence of his diminished mental state. His appeals have been rejected twice. This is his third death warrant since 2015 .
Imdad’s fate now lies solely in the president’s hands.
Text HALT + your full name to 70505* to demand he stops this execution before it’s too late.
Unfair trial
Despite a clear diagnosis, Imdad’s lawyer for his 2015 appeal failed to submit the medical report as evidence – and we’re concerned he wasn’t given his right to a fair trial.
One last chance to save his life
With all appeal opportunities exhausted, A mercy petition to Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain calling for Imdad’s sentence to be commuted could be his only hope. We need as many of you as possible to add your voice and demand that President Hussain stops this killing immediately.
Let him know the world is watching.
Text HALT plus your name to 70505*
What happens to my text?
We will add your name – but not your phone number – to a co-signed letter calling to the President of Pakistan:
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Urging him to accept Imdad Ali’s mercy petition and commute his death sentence, reminding him that international law clearly prohibits the use of the death penalty against people with mental or intellectual disabilities;
- Urging him to re-establish the official moratorium on all executions in the country as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty, in line with five UN General Assembly resolutions adopted since 2007.
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