AIUSA Group 48

Amnesty International Welcomes Decision on Mumia Abu-Jamal Case

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joanne
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Amnesty International
Press Release
Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Amnesty International Welcomes Decision on Mumia Abu-Jamal Case

Contact: Suzanne Trimel, 212-633-4150, strimel@aiusa.org

(Washington) – In response to the Philadelphia prosecutors’ decision not to seek another death sentence for Mumia Abu-Jamal, Laura Moye, director of Amnesty International’s Campaign to Abolish the Death Penalty, made the following comments:

“This is a welcome decision by the Philadelphia prosecutors. However, Amnesty International continues to believe that justice would best be served by granting Mumia Abu-Jamal a new trial.”

While not taking a position on Mumia Abu-Jamal’s guilt or innocence, Amnesty International concluded in its report, “The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Life in the Balance” that his original trial was manifestly unfair and failed to meet international fair trial standards.

“Mumia Abu-Jamal’s trial featured the dismissal of African American jurors, inadequate defense representation, an openly hostile judge, the use of political statements to argue for a death sentence, and law enforcement’s unseemly agitation for execution throughout the entire process,” said Moye.

“Given these fundamental flaws, it would have been unconscionable to put a Mumia Abu-Jamal to death.”

Comments

One response to “Amnesty International Welcomes Decision on Mumia Abu-Jamal Case”

  1. Will Ware

    Gosh, it has been over 20 years since we took this case on.

    Mumia Abu-Jama certainly deserves a new trial, but I hope that this case represents a generally rolling back of death sentences nationwide.

    The man has done good work from death row raising awareness of the inherent flaws of the death sentence. We can at least have the consolation that his continued incarceration will give him this platform.

    Reply

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