Alfatih Abdallah and others, lawyers and journalists

Re: Alfatih Abdallah and others, lawyers and journalists

To: Mr. Muhammad Ali-al-Maradhi, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

From: Joseph Hoffer, LRWC

Date: 2007-06-19

I am writing to appeal to you to urge the authorities under your control to give the above-named men immediate and regular access to their families; lawyers; and any necessary medical treatment.

I am also appealing to you to direct the authorities under your control to charge the men with recognizable criminal offences, failing which, they should immediately be released.

Finally, Minister, I appeal to you to urge those under your control to appeal Article 31 of the National Security Forces Act which allows detainees to be unduly held for up to nine months without access to judicial review. These appeals to you, Minister, are made through Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada. We are hopeful that you will take these appeals seriously and will act upon them. We would be obliged if you would acknowledge receipt of this correspondence and provide a commitment to respond positively to these appeals.