From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Date: 05 Nov 92 08:02 PST
Subject: AI FI152/92 ALGERIA Death penalty
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700761:000:3376
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Nov  5 08:02:00 1992


/* Written  3:24 pm  Oct 30, 1992 by gn:rmitchellai in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI FI152/92 ALGERIA Death penalty" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: MDE 28/06/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC       
 
                                    30 October 1992       
 
Further information on UA 152/92 (MDE 28/03/92, 8 May 1992)  -
Death Penalty
 
ALGERIA:    Noureddine Rahmoune 
            Ahmed Fodil 
            Sid Ahmed Lahrani
 
 Amnesty International is gravely concerned at the confirmation by the
Supreme Court of the death sentences passed on Noureddine
Rahmoune and Ahmed Fodil.
 
Noureddine Rahmoune and Ahmed Fodil, both military personnel,
were sentenced to death in May 1992 by the military court in Blida for
participating in an attack on the Navy headquarters (Amiraute) in
Algiers in February 1992.  They were convicted of having collaborated
with those who carried out the attack during which 10 people died.  It
appears that the case of the third accused, Sid Ahmed Lahrani, who
was also sentenced to death at the same time but in absentia, has not
yet been reviewed.
 
Under Algerian law, those convicted by the military court may apply to
the Supreme Court for review by cassation.  The review concerns only
alleged misapplications of the law, not facts.  Once the death sentences
have been upheld by the Supreme Court, executions may not be
carried out until a plea for clemency has been presented to the
President and refused.
 
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases as a
violation of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment, as proclaimed by the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters in French or Arabic
if possible:
 
- expressing your concern that the Supreme Court has upheld the
death sentences of Noureddine Rahmoune and Ahmed Fodil;
 
- urging President Ali Kefi to commute these death sentences when
the clemency pleas are presented to him;
 
- urging that all death sentences be commuted and that steps be taken
towards abolishing the death penalty in Algeria.
 
APPEALS TO:
 
President:
 
President M. Ali KEFI   
[Salutation: Excellence / Your Excellency]
President de la Republique    
Presidence de la Republique         
El-Mouradia             
Alger       
Algerie           
Telegrams: President Kefi, Alger, Algerie
Telexes:   66044/66088        
 
High Council of State Member:
 
M. Ali HAROUN     
[Salutation: Excellence / Your Excellency]
Membre du Haut Comite d'Etat
Palais du Gouvernement        
Alger             
Algerie           
Telegrams: M Ali Haroun, Haut Comite d'Etat, Alger, Algerie
Telexes:   66217/66221/66044/66088
 
Minister of the Interior:
 
M. Mohamed HARDI        
[Salutation: Excellence / Your Excellency]
Ministre de l'Interieur 
Ministere de l'Interieur et des Collectivetes Locales 
Alger 
Algerie           
Telegrams: Ministre de l'Interieur Hardi, Alger, Algerie
Telexes:   66341        
Faxes:     + 213 2 618802 or 213 2 645793       
 
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: To the
diplomatic representative in your country - please see the responses to
this topic for details. 
 
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 11 December 1992.