Officials in the capital, Sanaa, said President Ali Abdullah Saleh was “moved” when he learned of the plight of Mrs Abduladif, who was convicted of murdering her husband when she was 16 despite insisting that her confession was forced from her under torture.
The President has asked justice ministers to look again at her case and her lawyers are demanding a new trial.
For the moment, Mrs Abduladif remains on death row with her two-year-old son, who was born in jail after she was allegedly raped by a prison guard. She had gone on a hunger strike after a prison official told her he had read in a newspaper that her execution date had been set for Monday.
“I have pleaded with her to eat something and to have hope,” Ms Nasir said. “She is very grateful for all those abroad who protested about her case. We believe it was this international intervention that saved her…link
There have been previous diaries on this subject, and susanbhu in particular has worked very hard on gathering addresses and what information is available on Amina’s case. Susan also hates diaries that just have a news story and not much else, but maybe she will forgive me in this case.
Anyway, keep those cards and faxes going, folks!
Tell Saleh he did the right thing. You know Yemen doesn’t want to look barbaric like the US 😉
Yes! Keep the heat on … Here’s the link to a handy list of contacts at the State Dept. and at the Yemeni embassy.
(P.S. I think this is the same story that the Times UK had yesterday…. but is cool. Keeps the info alive!)
I was AFK much of yesterday.
I am cautiously optimistic. This whole case is in violation of just too many of Yemen’s own laws, the only thing I can figure out is that once her husband was dead, the family wanted her off their hands, and the cousins had connections. In India she would probably have had a tragic cooking accident.
Check out my Kos diary from yesterday. There were lots of helpful comments, including more ways to contact people.
I got two volunteers from that diary who are going to help me TRY (!) to get through to the attorney for Amina. My reasons:
Ken, one of the volunteers, will try to call Yemen. However, I haven’t heard back from him since yesterday afternoon — i.e., he didn’t respond to my e-mail. So, I’m a bit worried.
IF ANYONE ELSE can call Yemen, I’ll give you the “how to,” etc. I can’t afford it myself … but would greatly appreciate a phone call volunteer.
I also mentioned to Ken that we should call Amnesty UK, because it was they who got the word out on Amina.
I already called Amnesty in NYC, and they were rather unhelpful.
Not sure what that means.
It’s funny how even BT is busy enough now that you miss things – I posted comments based on The Times article on three separate threads about 14 or 15 hours prior to your diary. Then I didn’t notice your diary until now. Has Booman created some sort of secret ‘stealth diary’ mechanism that not everyone can see?
Interesting that the story got into The Australian – obviously passed on as part of the News Corp empire.
I was amused to see that the Yemen Observer (which I doubt is a Murdoch paper!) has an article which appears to be taken word for word from The Times. It is “by Observer Staff” and “Copyright Yemen Observer”!
Don’t you love the rule of law!
.
Amina Al-Tuhaif
Read Susan’s recent diary and previously Googled for Amina Al-Tuhaif. Now understand the similarity in the LETTER doc found and the article in Weekly Yemen Observer.
I used a copy of the latter as reference in a personalized version of appeal to all persons and Email addresses provided!
http://www.presidentsaleh.gov.ye/en/index.php?option=contact&Itemid=6
His Excellency, Minister of Human Rights Ms. Amat Al Alleem Soussua,
mshr@y.net.ye
His Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abubaker ALQIRBI
His Excellency, Ambassador Abdulwahab Abdulla Al-Hajjri
ambassador@yemenembassy.org
Subject: Appeal for Reconsideration Sentence of Mrs. Amina Al Tuhaif
YOUR PUBLICATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Yemen ratified the Convention on the rights of the Child in 1991.
I. LEGISLATION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
A- Definition of the child in Yemeni legislation
Various Yemeni laws and legislative enactments set different legal ages for the exercise of various rights and obligations:
The Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Compulsory National Service Act and the General Reserve Act set the minimum age for exercising those rights at 18 years. For example, in the Civil Service Act it is set at 18 and in the Civil Status and Civil Registration Act at 16. The Rights of the Child Law of 2002 defines the child as every person who has not passed the age of 18 as long as he has not reached maturity. The Penal Code sets the age of the “juvenile” under 15 years of age while the Passport Act entitles any person over 16 years of age to passports and travel documents.
In reference to a publication in the Yemen Observer on April 30, 2005 and a number of concerns voiced by global NGO’s who’s focus is the care of children.
Appreciation of the efforts and tasks performed by the Yemeni government, its leaders and society as a whole to meet the challenges of the 21st century and provide security and welfare for its citizens.
As an individual person, respectfully do appeal to Your Excellence to do all possible within the power and compassion befitting your position, in accordance with the Constitution and Judicial Acts of the Yemen Sovereign Nation.
Personally, my believe is that capital punishment should be reserved by the state for the ultimate and extreme crimes against society. The state should also show compassion, where it’s required by unusual circumstances of events, and certainly in the case of Mrs. Amina Al Tuhaif, a minor when alleged crimes were committed and mother of child.
In trust that your decision will be JUST, I respectfully extend my good wishes to the leadership of the Republic of Yemen and the representation of the People of Yemen.
With Cordial Greetings,
– – – – Oui – – – –
The Hague, the Netherlands
Article Yemen Observer about Mrs. Amina Al-Tuhaif with child.
PS HOME PAGE for additional links to Yemen.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Between packing boxes, I have been praying for this woman. She has been occupying my thoughts constantly. Right now in my transition to Falwell County, I can’t do more than pray but it seems Goddess has answered and I am grateful to Her and to all those who have done more than I — like faxes, emails and phone calls.
Thank you, Susan, for caring for this woman and bringing her plight to our attention.
And, to DTF, continue to keep us informed about situations where we can, by direct and indirect means, make a difference.