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URGENT ACTION
United Arab Emirates (UAE): Death penalty
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 25/001/2002
UA 99/02 Death penalty 3 April 2002
UNITED Andre Seefred, aged 28, Ukrainian national
ARAB Sergei Doboni, aged 24, Russian national
EMIRATES (UAE)
An appeal court in Dubai reportedly upheld the death sentence against the two
people named above on 1 April. The case is expected to be referred to the
Supreme Court. If the death sentence is upheld by this court, it will have to
be ratified by President al-Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, before it can be
carried out.
Andre Seefred and Sergei Doboni were first sentenced to death in February after
they were found guilty of the murder in July 2001 of an Indian national. They
reportedly killed the victim in his jewellery shop in Dubai and stole about
US$1.4 million worth of jewellery and diamonds.
Under Shari'a (Islamic) law, families of murder victims can accept blood money
(compensation) and pardon a defendant. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the
amount is fixed at approximately US$ 45,000.
Amnesty International recognizes the rights and responsibilities of governments
to bring to justice those convicted of criminal offences, but is
unconditionally opposed to the death sentence in all cases as the ultimate
violation of the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading
punishment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 1997, nine people including a woman, are known to have been executed in
the UAE. All had been convicted of murder. A number of people have been
sentenced to death for drug offences. However, no one is known to have been
executed on drug charges. Executions are usually by firing-squad.
| AI Index: MDE 25/001/2002 | | 3 April 2002 |
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