Will Azzaidis death sentence stop Yemens kidnappings? [Archives:2002/17/Reportage]

BY HASSAN AZZAIDI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
For the first time in Yemen,a convicted kidnapper, Ahmed Naser Mohammed Azzaidi has been sentenced to death.
He is convicted of kidnapping German engineer, Carl Lehrner.
The court upheld 20-year prison terms in absentia against three fugitive accomplices in the abduction of 50-year-old Carl Lehrner in November 2001.
Yemen is known to have a high number of kidnappings and in most cases the authorities end up responding to tribesmens demands.
What has attracted my attention is that the death sentence has been issued, in gradual steps from imprisonment, to death, said Khaled Saleh al-Anesi, the General Manager of Allow for Legal Profession.
I cant express my opinion freely in this case. I have first to be acquainted with reasons behind the legality to issue this verdict, Al-Anesi further commented.
He said that the death sentence can be ascribed to security procedures rather than judicial verdict.
We dont accept such. The stiff measures that have been taken against the kidnapper has a multi-dimensional purposes and needs to be carefully tackled.
He concluded that the verdict was mainly based on kidnapping law and it is based on intentions and not on actions. Thus, this is a reaction against kidnapping incidents in Yemen.
Mohammed Sadek al-Odaini, a journalist, said that the death sentence was not fair. It has coincided with campaigns launched against terrorism.
In my view, the death sentence will not solve the problem and this has been done at the expense of private interests and policies. The verdict has specific purposes and perhaps, the majority of the people realize that Azzaidi is only a victim of current internal as well as international crises, he said.
If the reverse is taken into consideration, Azzaidi will be treated as those as treated before. The sole purpose is a double-standard policy.
Sheikhs point of view
Gebil Tuaiman, one of the Jehm tribes and a member of a parliament begins by condemning kidnapping incidents and the verdict that have been issued is not fair.
Death sentence in the Islamic law is applied on those who killed others, but the hostage was unharmed. The verdict is not for the benefit of the public interest, security and stability in the country he said.
Such verdict will create a sense of resentment among our tribes he said.
We will not remain silent
Hearing the verdict, tribesmen in Jehm, where Carl Lehrner was taken as hostage, held a meeting where they have strongly condemned the verdict on the basis of that it is not fair.
Jehm tribesmen appealed to officials in Marib and demanded the president to interfere.
Ahmed Saif Balhat, a prominent Sheikh in Jehm tribe, has strongly condemned the verdict. This is not fair. This is applied to those who kill others, and the Jehm tribe will not remain silent, he said.
Since the Sheikhs have agreed that the verdict will not put an end to kidnapping incidents, the verdict will intensify situations.

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