Threats to internationalize Jarallah Omar’s case [Archives:2005/834/Front Page]

At a meeting on April 9, seven Joint Meeting Party (JMP) representatives, and members of the National Board for Following-up Jarallah Omar's case threatened to internationalize the inquiry into his assassination if the judiciary fails to investigate the murder properly and disclose the facts to the public. Omar was the Assistant General Secretariat of the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP) and was shot dead two years ago by an extremist.

The JMP and the National Board, as well as the legal defense team, warned of the danger of trying to conceal the truth about the murder of Jarallah Omar, as it would encourage the perpetrators and their supporters to commit more murders.

A statement released by political parties and activists said that the court should have ordered not only the execution of the murderer, but also a thorough and complete investigation of the case. They agreed to communicate with the authorities but will resort to other mechanisms for human rights protection if authorities do not respond, or if the national Judiciary fails to carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

Legalist analysts mentioned that the jury that was initially examining Jarallah Omar's case at the Sana'a Court of Appeal, has been dispersed after the recent judicial reshuffle.

“The Minister of Justice should have reassembled the jury to issue the judgment. This has not been done despite the fact that we are more than three months past the first-instance court's judgment date,” they said.

The statement argues that nullifying the case would not only deprive people of the right to justice and fairness but that it would also be a deliberate attempt to disregard the victim's right to life.
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