AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: A Yemeni woman is facing imminent execution accused of killing her husband. Fatima Hussein-Badi was convicted of murder in 2001 and faces the death penalty despite a court ruling in 2003 that she did not take part in the killing.
There is mounting fear for her life following the execution of another woman for similar charges on Sunday. 'Aisha Ghalib al-Hamzi was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband in October 2003 and her sentence was confirmed on appeal in 2007.
In December 2008, the Supreme Court in Sana’a upheld the death sentence and it was ratified by the President. 'Aisha Ghalib al-Hamzi was executed after relatives of her husband, including her seven children, refused to pardon her.
Under the Shari’a rule of Qisas (retribution in kind), relatives of the victims of certain categories of murder have the power to pardon the offender in exchange for compensation (blood money), grant a pardon freely or request his or her execution.
Amnesty International condemned the execution of 'Aisha Ghalib al-Hamzi and has called on the Yemeni authorities not to execute Fatima Hussein-Badi and to halt all other executions immediately. The organization opposes the death penalty unconditionally in all situations as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. >>> © Amnesty International | Wednesday, April 22, 2009
