[RE: UP-43-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Questions remain in Sri Lanka’s willingness to save three of its citizens; UP-39-2005: Three Sri Lankans face imminent execution in Saudi Arabia; UP-38-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Please send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia urging his intervention to commute the death sentence of three Sri Lankans; UP-34-2005: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention; AS-36-2005: The Government of Sri Lanka must take a more proactive stance to save the lives of three Sri Lankans on death row in Saudi Arabia; UA-49-2005: Death sentence to migrant workers requires urgent intervention by the Sri Lankan government]
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Amnesty International (AI) issued an international appeal on 22 July 2005 calling on His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia to commute death sentences of three Sri Lankan men, D. D. Ranjith de Silva, E J Victor Corea and Sanath Kumara, who are facing imminent execution. AI also added that court proceedings fall far short of international standards for fair trial and take place behind closed doors. The three men were sentenced to death in October 2004, in connection with a series of armed robberies and they are now being are held in al-Hair prison, in Riyadh.
The AI also confirmed that the death sentences have been referred to the King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. If the king chooses to ratify their sentences, the men could be executed at any time.
We again urge you to send an appeal letter to the His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia to save the lives of these three men. You can find a sample letter and contact information of King in our previous urgent appeal (UP-38-2005)
To see our previous urgent appeals on this case,
– UA-49-2005: Death sentence to migrant workers requires urgent intervention by the Sri Lankan government
– AS-36-2005: The Government of Sri Lanka must take a more proactive stance to save the lives of three Sri Lankans on death row in Saudi Arabia
– UP-34-2005: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention
– UP-38-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Please send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia urging his intervention to commute the death sentence of three Sri Lankans
– UP-39-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Three Sri Lankans face imminent execution in Saudi Arabia
– UP-43-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Questions remain in Sri Lanka’s willingness to save three of its citizens
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION
Saudi Arabia: Imminent Execution
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 23/009/2005
22 July 2005
UA 193/05 Imminent Execution
SAUDI ARABIA D.D. Ranjith de Silva (m), Sri Lankan national
E.J. Victor Corea (m), Sri Lankan national
Sanath Pushpakumara (m), Sri Lankan national
The three Sri Lankan men named above have reportedly had their death sentences referred to the King, which is the final appeal stage of Saudi Arabia’s secretive judicial system. The King may grant clemency, but if he chooses to ratify their sentences, they could be executed at any time.
The three were reportedly arrested in March 2004, in the capital, Riyadh. They were reportedly sentenced to death in October, in connection with a series of armed robberies. Their sentences were reportedly upheld in March 2005. They are held in al-Ha’ir prison, in Riyadh.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences. Court proceedings fall far short of international standards for fair trial, and take place behind closed doors.
Defendants do not have the right to formal representation by a lawyer, and in many cases are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. They may be convicted solely on the basis of confessions obtained under duress, torture or deception.
At least 55 people are known to have been executed in Saudi Arabia so far this year. Two thirds have been foreign nationals. The true figure may be much higher.
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Progamme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
