[Ppnews] Mumia Abu-Jamal - Legal Update, reply of Paris Mayor

[Political Prisoner News]

From: RobertRBryan at aol.com

Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 10:48 AM


Dear Friends:

Since last spring we have been engaged on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal in
briefing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit,
Philadelphia.  It is the most extensive I have seen in three decades of
specializing in capital litigation.  The pending issues concern the death
penalty, racism that has permeated the proceedings for a quarter of the
century, and prosecutorial and judicial abuse.  They are of great
constitutional significance.  Last fall I was notified by the court that
oral arguments would be scheduled for January, but that was later
rescinded.  At this time we have no indication as to when we will be
permitted to orally argue the merits of the issues.

In November Mumia and I together sent letters to the Mayor of Paris and
its Council.  It was in response to an appalling letter sent to Paris by a
few misguided politicians from the Philadelphia area.  I wrote:  "Their
demand that the honorary citizenship of Mr. Abu-Jamal be revoked is an
affront not only to the citizens of Paris, but is insulting to people
around the globe who are opposed to the death penalty and human-rights
abuses."  Mumia's letter eloquently pointed out that "these people are
merchants of death who wish to trick you into their campaign to not
only kill my client, but also to wipe [his] name from the face of the
earth. Their deal is but another lie, a devil's bargain that they
are powerless to grant under any stretch of American or international
law."

I am pleased to advise that the Mayor's office has responded in a most
positive manner.  In the great French tradition of championing human
rights, the December 5 response to me said:
The Mayor of Paris has received your letter concerning the situation of
your client, Mumia ABU-JAMAL and thank you.
As mentioned in your mail, some representatives of the city of
Philadelphia have recently wished to express their disapproval toward
the decision of the Paris City Council to have selected in December
2001, Mumia ABU-JAMAL as "honorary citizen of the City of Paris."
Though the denunciation by these representatives is concentrated on the
Cities of Paris and of Saint Denis, nobody ignores that many other
Cities in France, in the United states and in the world, have shown
their support to Mumia ABU-JAMAL.
We have established that the arrival of this Delegation in France,
announced for end of November, has simply never taken place.
It is clear that the city of Paris stays mobilized in this fight and
wish to affirm with force its (engagement) commitment in order that the
capital punishment shall one day disappear of the planet.
I will be grateful for you to transmit this information to your client
and assure him of the support of the City of Paris of which he is
honorary citizen.


We will keep you informed as there are further developments in the case.


With best wishes,

Robert
============
Robert R. Bryan
Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123

Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal


The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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