AI Index : MDE 23/017/2005
UA 310/05
SAUDI ARABIA : Puthen Veetil Abdul Latheef Noushad (m), Indian national
09 December 2005
Puthen Veetil Abdul Latheef Noushad has reportedly been sentenced to have an eye removed. The sentence is said to have been passed to a higher court and if upheld, could be inflicted at any time.
According to press reports, the sentence is punishment for partially blinding another man during a fight in April 2003. He was apparently working at a petrol station in the city of Dammam, in the eastern region when he had an argument with a customer over payment. A fight broke out which left the other man with partial loss of sight. Puthen Veetil Abdul Latheef Noushad said that he was acting in self defence. He is detained in al-Dammam prison, Dammam.
The injured man is said to have been given the option of pardoning Puthen Veetil Abdul Latheef Noushad in exchange for financial compensation from his sponsor, but refused.
RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language :
expressing grave concern that Puthen Veetil Abdul Latheef Noushad has been sentenced to have an eye removed ;
stating that Amnesty International recognizes the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but opposes punishments such as this, which constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment amounting to torture ;
expressing concern that such punishment would be contrary to international law, including the UN Convention against Torture ;
urging the authorities to abolish punishments such as eye-removal which constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, amounting to torture.
APPEALS TO :
Minister of the Interior
His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin (Abdul (Aziz,
Minister of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior
P.O. Box 2933, Airport Road,
Riyadh 11134, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax : + 966 1 403 1185 (it may be difficult to get through, please keep trying)
Salutation : Your Royal Highness
Minister of Justice
His Excellency Dr. (Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh
Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice
University Street,
Riyadh 11137, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax : + 966 1 401 1741
Salutation : Your Excellency
Minister of Foreign Affairs
His Royal Highness Prince Saud al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Nasseriya Street,
Riyadh 11124, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax : + 966 1 403 0645 (it may be difficult to get through, please keep trying)
COPIES TO :
Ambassade du royaume d’Arabie Saoudite
Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, 45
1050 Bruxelles
fax : 02/ 647 24 92
email : beemb mofa.gov.sa
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 20 January 2006.
