• Press Release

Amnesty International Welcomes Decision on Mumia Abu-Jamal Case

December 7, 2011

(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.”

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

 


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For more information, please visit: www.amnestyusa.org.