The Arab Center for Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Professions (ACIJLP) in collaboration with the Sawasya Organizations of the Rights and Freedom organizes a symposium on “The Role of Media in Reducing the Application of the Death Penalty” on Monday, 20^th February 2012 in Tripoli, Libya.

The Symposium comes in the framework of the ACIJLP’s campaign on the project “Towards Reducing the Application of the Death Penalty in the Arab States” which launched by the ACIJLP at the beginning of the year 2010 and will continue till the year 2013 with financial support from the European Union (EU).

(30) Libyan media Figures from various visual and audio outlets in addition to the many human rights activities will participate in the symposium.

The symposium aims to raise the awareness of the Libyans Media Figures towards human rights issues, the importance of the right to life, reducing the application of the death penalty, replacing such penalty with alternative sanctions, disseminating the culture of tolerance and combating violence acts.

The symposium discusses the role of media in guiding societal culture on respecting human rights, the role of the Libyan media figures in reducing crimes of revenge and honor killing. Moreover, addressing the culture of punishment in society and media strategy to support the role of civil society organizations on the field of reducing the application of the death penalty.

The sessions will be co-chaired and discussed by Dr. Hadi Abu Hamra, professor of criminal law at the University of Tripoli, Mr. Abdeen al-Sharif, Media professor at the University of Tripoli and the Academy of Graduate Studies, Dr. Imran Al-Safrani professor of international law at the University of Tripoli, in addition to many human rights activists and media figures in Libya.

Within in the framework of above mentioned ACIJLP’s campaign, the ACIJLP determined to organize many events including regional conferences, training courses and research studies related to reducing the death penalty in Arab States.

ACIJLP would like to express its welcome to the amnesty decree issued by the Libyan President for several prisoners including 47 Egyptian prisoners in commemoration of the 40^th Anniversary of the Great Al Fateh Revolution.

ACIJLP would like to seize this opportunity to call upon the Government of Egypt to release some Libyans in Egypt’s prisons awaiting sentences in criminal cases, namely:

• Oun Adam Al Ghamary Mokhtar
• Muhammed Masoud Aly
• Ramadan Khamis Attia
• Nassif Mom’en Muhammed
• Abdel Qader Shamkh Attia

Moreover, ACIJLP Highly appreciates the decree of the Libyan President to replace the death penalty with imprisonment penalty for those who are sentenced to death as embodiment to the instructions of the Libyan President regarding death penalty.

ACIJLP hopes that the Arab regimes would take positive steps to abolish the death penalty.

Commemorating the 40^th anniversary of the Great El Fateh Revolution (September 1^st, 1969) and seizing the opportunity that Libya issues pardons for many prisoners in this occasion, ACIJLP hopes that this year will witness a pardon from H.E. President of Libya to the largest number possible of Egyptian prisoners in the Libyan prisons who are sentenced to life imprisonment.

In the same context, ACIJLP calls upon the Libyan President to personally intervene to release a number of Egyptians who have been sentenced to death in criminal offenses.

It’s worth mentioning that the said Egyptian have concluded the reconciliation measures with the families of the murdered Libyans in accordance with the applicable Libyan procedures under support form Libyan civil society institutions that have closelt cooperated with ACIJLP in such sincere efforts, namely: Gaddafi international charity and development foundation – Waatasemu Charity Association.

Despite the fact that the said Egyptians reached reconciliation with the families of the murdered in accordance with Libyan Law on Reconciliation And Blood Money No. 6 of 1423 H, yet they are still in prison for more than three years now, namely: (Samy Fathy Abd Rabuh – Abdel Halim El Sayed Abdel Halim – Farahat Abdo Faarhat – Adel Abdel Azim Omar – Muhammed Omar Ibrahim)

ACIJLP appeals to the Libyan President to issue pardon to the Egyptian sentenced to death, including: Adel Kamal Abdel Mawla – Mahmoud Nagat Abdel Maougod Muhammed – Tariq Muhammed Abdo – Ahmed Ramadan Muhammed – Ahmed Mahrous Ahemd – Ala Muhammed Salim – Ihab Wagdy Mashraqi – Samir Mokhtar Abdullah – Naguib Abdel Ghany Hussein – Hussein Mahmoud Hassan – Shaher Nagdi El Shafie’ – Muhammed El Rahman El Shafie’ – Farouq Abdel Rahman Muhammed – Hamada Shahin Muhammed – Adel Ramadan Ahmed – Sultan Muhammed Abu Talib – Aly Muhammed Abu Talib – Hamed Eid Abdel Alim – Abdel Azim El Sayed – Hammad Abdullah Masou’d – Mustafa Ibrahim El Snousy – Adel Ragab Muhammed.

ACIJLP indicates that the majority of those Egyptian have gotten initial approvals to conduct reconciliation efforts and therefore their death sentences are suspended as they have paid the blood money and waiting the conclusion of the judicial measures.

Extending its deep congratulation to the Libya, President and People, ACIJLP would like to praise the directions of H.E. the Libyan President to abolish the death penalty and place other alternative penalties.

The center has many concerns about the rest of the Egyptians detained in the Libyan prisons waiting for the implementation of the execution sentence they are 27 Egyptians. In particular the role played by the concerned Egyptian authorities, especially the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, is not commensurate with the danger that threatens the lives of the Egyptians sentenced to death in Libya .

ACIJLP appeals the Libyan government to release the Egyptians who have completed their procedures for reconciliation and payment of blood money, and have not been released, although the provisions of the Libyan law of reconciliation and blood money No. 6 of 1423 require the release of those convicts who are:

1. Sami Fathi Abed Rabbo.
2. Hussein Elsayed Darwish.
3. Farhat Abdo Farhat.
4. Mohammed Omar Ibrahim El Gazoy.
5. Adel Abdel-Azim El Gazoy.
6. Ehab Wagdi Mesherqi

ACIJLP calls upon H.E. the President Muammar Gaddafi’s to interfere directly to release those convicted persons’ especially as this release is consistent with H.E directions on the abolition of the death penalty, which is consistent with the text of Article 6-4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that ” Anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence. Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death may be granted in all cases.”

The Center calls upon the Libyan civil society institutions in particular (WaEatasemo Charity Association and the Libyan Human Rights Society of the Gaddafi Development Foundation) to seek the Libyan authorities and concerned bodies for the release of the Egyptians who have completed their procedures for the reconciliation and compromise.

ACIJLP welcomes the Libyan decision issued in August 4^th, 2009 on suspending the execution sentences against 30 sentenced people of different nationalities in criminal cases including two Egyptians, namely: Higazy Ahmed Zidan and Ehab Maged Mohamed Hamed.

It’s worth mentioning that ACIJLP sent yesterday a prompt call to H.E. President of Libya to personally involve to suspend the death sentences duly to be executed in August 4^th, 2009. The same call has been also sent to the General Prosecutor of Libya.

ACIJLP sees that such decisions goes in consistency with the genuine efforts exerted by H.E. President of Libya regarding abolishing the death penalty and use some other alternatives through his wise directions and the approval of the Libyan Judiciary Council in this regard, the matter that would put Libya among the advanced countries which prohibits such penalty being one of the cruel penalties.

ACIJLP would like to seize this opportunity and praise the effective role played by civil society institutions in Libya regarding the suspension of death sentences and use of other alternatives, the matter that would positively affect the sentenced Egyptians, in addition to the genuine efforts exerted in the reconciliation and negotiation course by (Gaddafi international charity and development foundation – Waatasemu Charity Association).