In this letter Amnesty International expresses concern over possible anti-Islamic sentiment in the forthcoming murder trial of Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, in which the prosecution intends to seek the death penalty. Of particular concern, in the event of a conviction, is that the prosecution intends to use Jamil Al-Amin’s writings in the punishment phase of the trial as “aggravating” evidence for a death sentence. The scope for misuse, or juror misinterpretation – of what may be provocative and unpopular opinions – taken out of context, is too great in the context of a capital sentencing.
