AFGJ - Alliance for Global Justice
05/17/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/17/2021 14:15
URGENT WEBINAR THIS WEDNESDAY 19th: Alex Saab’s Lawyer: ‘How the US Starves Nations’
Alex Saab's lawyer, Femi Falana, has agreed to participate in a webinar about this important case related to US 'sanctions'.
US Plans to Extradite Venezuelan CLAP representative to Face US Trial for Violating US Sanctions: The Case of Alex Saab
Wednesday, May 19th
1 PM Pacific / 4 PM Eastern & Venezuela
Webinar is in English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation on Zoom
Facebook Live @Allforglobaljust
Alex Saab has been illegally held by Cape Verdean authorities in prison, and most recently in a unique form of house arrest. Saab was apprehended because of his attempts to bypass illegal US and European 'sanctions' against the Venezuelan people.
Saab, a special diplomatic envoy of Venezuela at the time of his irregular detention, and currently ambassador of Venezuela to the African Union, was instrumental in procuring international supplies (fuel, medicines and food) for the Venezuelan people, bypassing the criminal US and European economic blockade.
Cape Verde's detention of Saab without consideration for his status of diplomatic immunity was a violation of all international diplomatic provisions, and raised suspicion about Cape Verde's respect of international law. Saab's illegal detention was carried out without a proper Interpol red notice. In addition, Cape Verde did not respect the ECOWAS ruling against his detention, and against the irregular extradition process to the US.
Alex Saab's lawyer
Femi Falana, a former president of the West Africa Bar Association (WABA), has been at the forefront of defending journalists and other human rights advocates across Africa for over two decades. He has defended and secured victories for dozens of journalists and activists in Nigerian courtrooms and at the ECOWAS Court.
In 2008 and 2010, he secured landmark victories at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice against the government of The Gambia for Gambian journalists Musah Saidykhan and Chief Ebrima Manneh. Saidykhan was a victim of severe torture while Manneh suffered enforced disappearance.
Femi Falana is currently serving as lawyer for the journalist and founder of the online publication Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, who is being held by the Nigerian authorities. Earlier this year, he secured the release of the editor and publisher of Weekly Source, Jones Abiri, who had been detained by Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS) since 2016.
In recognition of his exceptional qualities in, and dedication to, human rights law and criminal law, Femi Falana was recipient of the International Bar Association's Bernard Simons Memorial Award in 2008. He has been a keynote speaker at conferences of the ECOWAS Community Court and many other international legal convenings.
Sponsors:
- Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of New York
- International Action Center
- Chicago ALBA Solidarity
- Code Pink
- Alliance for Global Justice
- Frente Hugo Chávez para la Defensa de los Pueblos, Vancouver
- Task Force on the Americas
- Orinoco Tribune
RELATED CONTENT: Alex Saab: 'I was Tortured and Pressured' to Sign Voluntary Extradition