Munich City Council Passes Resolution for Mumia Abu-Jamal
by
Translated by Michael Schiffmann, Journalists for Mumia | 10.31.2009
Below is an English translation of the resolution passed October 28, 2009 by the Munich City Council in Germany, calling for a new trial for death row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Berlin, December, 2008
Resolution on the Occasion of the Full Meeting of the Munich City Council
- October 28, 2009 -
As a municipality which considerately follows constitutional principles and is committed to just and sustainable ways of development, Munich regards it as its duty to be actively engaged in the worldwide protection of human rights and to not look the other way when governmental abuse infringes on human dignity. In accord with this, the Capital of the State of Bavaria, Munich, has repeatedly taken a stance for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, particularly in the context of the initiative “Cities for Life - Cities against the Death Penalty,” in which several hundred major cities on all continents have participated.
The death penalty is a barbaric act of state violence that constitutes an affront against human dignity. It becomes outright murder whenever the question of guilt has not been unequivocally resolved, such as in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. This African American journalist and civil rights activist has been on death row in the United States for 27 years, accused of having allegedly killed a white police officer. Ever since then, Abu-Jamal has insisted on his innocence, and human rights organizations have pointed to egregious procedural mistakes in Abu-Jamal's original trial, which were obviously rooted in a background of prevalent racism.
For these reasons, we join the world-wide solidarity campaign for Mumia Abu-Jamal and demand a new, fair trial for him. The United States of America are rightfully proud of the oldest democratic constitution of the world with its guarantee of equal rights for all. However, this role model function also obliges the state in question to an extremely careful and humane evaluation of each individual case. As a matter of course, the legal principle in dubio pro reo (or “the benefit of the doubt”) is of particular, increased importance in all cases that involve the death penalty.
Beyond this particular case, the Munich City Council of course continues to demand the complete abolition of the death penalty. Particularly in friendly states such as the U.S.A., the decision to do away with it is long overdue.
Comments
German version
Submitted by HansBennett on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 9:37pmResolution anlässlich Vollversammlung am 28. Oktober 2009
Als Kommune, die mit Überzeugung rechtsstaatlichen Grundsätzen folgt und sich für eine gerechte und nachhaltige Entwicklung engagiert, sieht München die Verpflichtung, sich weltweit für den Schutz der Menschenrechte zu engagieren und nicht wegzusehen, wenn staatliche Übergriffe die Menschenwürde beeinträchtigen. In diesem Sinne hat sich die Landeshauptstadt München immer wieder für die weltweite Abschaffung der Todesstrafe eingesetzt, insbesondere im Rahmen der Initiative „Städte für das Leben - Städte gegen die Todesstrafe", an der sich mehrere Hundert Großstädte aus allen Kontinenten beteiligen.
Die Todesstrafe ist ein barbarischer, die Menschenwürde missachtender Akt staatlicher Gewalt. Sie wird dann zum Mord, wenn die Schuldfrage nicht eindeutig geklärt ist, wie dies im Fall von Mumia Abu-Jamal der Fall ist. Der afro-amerikanische Journalist und Bürgerrechtler sitzt seit über 27 Jahren in der Todeszelle in den Vereinigten Staaten, weil er angeblich einen weißen Polizisten erschossen haben soll. Abu-Jamal beteuert seither seine Unschuld, und Menschenrechtsorganisationen haben eklatante Verfahrensmängel im damaligen Gerichtsprozess aufgedeckt, die offensichtlich auf rassistische Hintergründe zurückzuführen sind.
Wir schließen uns daher der weltweiten Solidaritätskampagne an und fordern ein neues, faires Gerichtsverfahren für Mumia Abu-Jamal. Die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika sind zu Recht stolz auf die älteste demokratische Verfassung der Welt mit der Garantie gleicher Rechte für Alle. Diese Vorbildfunktion verpflichtet aber zu einer äußerst sorgfältigen und humanen Würdigung in jedem einzelnen Fall. Der Rechtsgrundsatz „in dubio pro reo" (im Zweifel für den Angeklagten) muss natürlich in ganz besonderem Maße bei der Verhängung der Todesstrafe gelten.
Darüber hinaus fordert der Münchner Stadtrat selbstverständlich weiterhin eine vollständige Abschaffung der Todesstrafe. Besonders in befreundeten Staaten wie den USA ist diese Entscheidung längst überfällig.
And
Submitted by jon peppers (not verified) on Sun, 11/01/2009 - 9:21amthe Munich City Council is a dupe for the misguided propaganda and false claims of innocence and injustice put forth by the article poster and his responding colleague. They should read the truth as stated in the book "Murdered by Mumia" by the widow of the Police Officer executed by Mumia Abu Jamal...proven and affirmed. Mumia will die in prison with or without the help of the State and rightfully so.
Jon Pisano
Justice for Officer Daniel Faulkner
Is not
Submitted by jon peppers (not verified) on Sun, 11/01/2009 - 7:11pmthe cold blooded execution of a Uniformed Police Officer, shot in the back then executed as he lay helpless on the street a "Barbaric act" yet y'all state the death penalty is an affront to human dignity. WHERE, in common sense, is YOUR logic? In my opinion, the convicted, proven and affirmed murderer should face the same as he/she committed. What justifies the existence of a cold blooded murderer when, with TOTAL disregard, he, Mumia Abu Jamal, executed Officer Daniel Faulkner. You, Munich Council, are fools led by fools. If you wish to respond to me directly, please do so at johnnypeppers@hotmail.com and I also suggest you read "Murdered by Mumia" by the Officers widow.
Jon Pisano
Justice for Officer Daniel Faulkner
Leonard Peltier is near death. Let's help him first
Submitted by RichardKanePA on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 11:07pmLeonard Peltier is near death. The The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community is stirring up a lot of enthusiasm and plan a demonstration in Washington DC on November 5. I wish people in Germany and elsewhere would pass a resolution on Leonard Peltier, Note the groundswell in the following link,
http://mendotadakota.com/mn/2009/10/24/leonard-peltiers-freedom05-novemb...
Philadelphians don't like it when pro-Mumia or anti-Mumia people stir up tension. I contend that Tigre Hill and the Philadelphia Inquirer are stirring up most of the tension as of late,
By the way Governor Rendell may oppose Mumia. But I'm sure if he saw what Tigre Hill did wrapping him around David Horrowitz who is a Muslim Hater and and Obama hater, he never would have agreed to an interview,
Enclosed is some pertaining links to Tigre Hill and the Philadelphia Inquirer who is cheering Tigre Hill on. Again it is significant that Tigre Hill gave so much space to David Horowitz who is trying to bait trouble between the Muslim World and the West
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/See_the_trailer_for_Mumia...
Anyway the Philadelphia Inquirer The Philadelphia Inquirer which is now controlled by a neocon has been spreading intense polarization concerning both Muslims and Mumia,
http://www.inkywatch.org/
http://www.phillyimc.org/en/inky-toes-party-line-lockerbie-expense-truth...
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/michael_smerconish/20090827_M...
http://www.phillychitchat.com/2008/04/tigre-hills-barrel-of-gun-wrap-par...
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocum...
The following is permanent testimony in the Mumia case,
http://revcom.us/a/v23/1100-99/1103/mumia_declaration.htm
Be sure to scrawl down to the Supplemental Declaration of William Cook
29 April 2001
http://www.partisandefense.org/pubs/innocent/wc.html
http://www.partisandefense.org/pubs/innocent/ab.html
http://www.bolshevik.org/mumia/AffidavitofDonaldHersing.html
Important background material concerning the police climate surrounding the case,
http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~kastor/newjersey/nj-crime-4
RichardKanePA
RichardKanePA.blogspot.com
Richard
Submitted by jon peppers (not verified) on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 7:15pmare YOU a real member of the Bar? I will research that. If so, do you REALLY believe the GARBAGE affidavits posted? HOW, can you, if you are an attorney, believe or put forth such a despicable defence.
jon pisano
Background
Submitted by jon peppers (not verified) on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 7:35pmI don't think so as to a credible background regarding issues. You, RK ,should state it is "your opinion" and not factual as to the Faulkner execution and other subjects. According to my search, you are not an attorney so why the PA? or , maybe I should not have dowelled on this due to the lack of Esq. BTW, I'm also retired but I'm lucid as to real factual evidence and not subject to false, fabricated so called evidence or statements that discredit each other ie billy Cook and Jamal OR eyewitness DOCUMENTED and accepted trial testimony
Jon Pisano
Heres one
Submitted by jon peppers (not verified) on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 5:45pmfor you. In the Schifmann so called evidence on the "Journalist for Mumia Abu Jamal" they try to show so called evidence that discredits that which was proven and admitted as evidence. Now in the Schifmann drawing of the cab location, which is NOT the correct drawing of the night of the execution of the fallen Officer, Schiffmann indicates Jamals cab was parked on 13st street facing north of locust st. Now, I ask any intelligent person if you were parked in a vehicle on a northbound street and on the west side of that street, would you, looking in the rear view mirror of the driver, able to see EAST about 30 feet from the interesting street? Think not. I refer y'all to #11 & 13 of Jamals bullschmidt statement...20 years after he killed another human being.
Jon Pisano
Justice for Officer Daniel Faulkner crowd
I dought at this point anyone is trying to execute Mumia
Submitted by RichardKanePA on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 1:22amBy pretending that Mumia abu-Jamal feels empowered by The Barrel of a Gun, and that the Black Panthers which he once belonged to were the type of group that would snipe at police cars and uniforms they hope to take any Constitutional Rights away from anyone accused of a heinous crime.
We had two justice systems after 9/11, the Inquirer wants to make it one by Mumia having lights flashed in his eyes all night and the other things those accused of terror have been subjected to.
Meanwhile Tigre Hill and cohorts got Marc Lamont Hill fired from Fox News for supporting Mumia, and Van Jones caned from the Obama administration for supporting Mumia as well.
Sorry I earlier told everyone I don't think Mumia ever killed anyone. Whether he did or not I don't want every heinous crime to be mixed in with the anti-terrorist hysteria, as people get fired the way they did during the Joe McCarthy witch-hunts.
RichardKanePA
RichardKanePA.blogspot.com
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