Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am an Austrian citizen, retired official of the Federal Ministry of Labour as well as former member of the Austrian Board of Paroles. I have learned that mentally ill Abdul Hamin Awkal is scheduled to be executed in Ohio on June 6th, 2012. It is outrageous to learn that Ohio Board of Paroles recommended NO mercy to Abdul Akwal in violation of minimum standards of international laws. I live in a country where disabled persons were sent to the gas chambers in the times of Nazi-fascism. This is why I feel free to contact you. I am asking you to do everything in your power to prevent the execution of a mentally ill man from the Lebanon.



Please give my kind thoughts to Mr Awkal and tell him that I hope that justice will prevail in the state of Ohio, and that I will continue to raise support among my friends to contact the Governor of Ohio to save his life!



I feel free to enclose the letter that I sent to the Governor of Ohio.



Thank you very much for your support



Sincerely,



Dr Heinz Leitner

Muhrengasse 51/14

A1100 Vienna

Austria, Europe





RE: Clemency to Mr Abdul Hamin Awkal, Inmate Number: A267-328, scheduled to be executed in Ohio on June 6th, 2012

Dear Governor,

I have learned that Mr Abdul Hamin Awkal is scheduled to be executed in Ohio on June 6th, 2012.

I oppose the death penalty in all cases and accordingly aim at its universal abolition, seeking a global moratorium on the death penalty as its first step. I consider that the abolition of death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.

I consider that the state of Ohio that has not abolished the death penalty, this death penalty should not be imposed on persons suffering from a mental disorder. Mr Abdul Hamin Awkal Abdul Awkal was convicted in the 1992 murders of his estranged ex-wife and brother-in-law in Cleveland.

Mr. Awkal was ruled incompetent to stand trial then sent to the Dayton Mental Health Center for treatment and further evaluation. He was prescribed greater levels of anti-psychotic mediactions and ultimately was restored to competency.


Mr. Awkal has a long, well-documented history of severe mental illness dating back to 1985. Medical records and information submitted to the Ohio Parol Board indicate from 1993 to 2011 establish a severe depressive/delusional disorder that results in audio and visual hallucinations, delusions of grandiose and paranoid themes, and suicide attempts.

According to clemency application records, Mr. Awkal believes the CIA communicates to him through messages planted in the USA Today, that he is responsible for maintianing US foreign policy in the Middle East through his communications with the CIA and former President Bush.

Abdul Awkal was found incompetent to waive his appeals during federal proceedings in 2004.

I strongly believe that the execution of persons suffering from a mental disorder is contrary to widely accepted human rights norms and is in the contraction of minimum standards of human rights set forth in several international human rights instruments. Among them are United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 1989/64 of 24 May, 1989, on the implementation of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, as well as relevant Resolutions urging all States still maintaining the death penalty “not to impose the death penalty on a person suffering from any form of mental disorder or to execute any such person”.

I therefore respectfully urge you, as the Governor of Ohio, to take these factors into account, and to exercise all the powers vested in your office to examine favourably the clemency of Mr Abdul Hamin Awkal and grant him relief from the death penalty.

Yours sincerely,

Heinz Leitner