His Highness The Amir, Shaikh Hamad Bin Essa Al-Khalifa,
Manama, Bahrain


I would like to put to the attention of your Excellency the plight of a young Ethiopian girl who is in death row in Bahrain. Her name is Yeshiwork Desta Zewdu and she is only 20 years old.

I am perfectly aware of the fact that your Excellency and the government of the state of Bahrain strive for a very high living standard to all citizens and residents of Bahrain; and I applaud you on your success. However, despite the efforts of your Excellency and your government some of the employers of domestic workers have created inhuman working and living conditions at their residence. They have created this abominable and almost hellish condition expecting that your Excellency and your government will never know their crime.

One of those unfortunate persons condemned to this unbearable working condition was Yeshiwork Desta Zewdu. This young Ethiopian girls dream when coming as a domestic worker to your Excellencys country was to be able to work under a humane condition and be able to help herself and her poor family. She did not expect to be a victim of brutal treatment. She did not expect to be physically tortured and psychologically tormented 24 hours a day by a ruthless employer. Unfortunately this was what she was facing day in and day out. This living nightmare resulted in a very deep psychological trauma for Yeshiwork.

Your Highness,

I am aware that on November 28, 2000 Yeshiwork was sentenced to death for allegedly having murdered her employer on Dec. 1,1998 and that the death sentence passed will be carried out within 40 days from the day it was passed.

All those who know her testify to the fact that Yeshiwork is a meek, peaceable and harmless girl who tries her best to please everyone, even when they are bad to her. However, as your Excellency is aware of even the most docile animal will fight back if and when it is cornered. Yeshiwork now stands accused of murder of her Filipino employer in Bahrain an act she committed out of desperation and in an abnormal state of mind.

To many people, including the authors of this petition, there is no doubt that Yeshiwork is innocent. It is in that hope that the following signatures are compiled with the intention of asking His Highness The Amir, Shaikh Hamad Bin Essa Al-Khalifa, to overturn, reverse, pardon, or grant clemency to Yeshiwork Desta Zewdu with respect to these matters.

Respectfully submitted.

Sincerely,