Uganda Intervenes to Save Citizen from Syria Death Penalty
The Ugandan government has formally opposed the potential execution of a Ugandan national facing murder charges in Syria and is pushing for her release, diplomatic sources confirmed on Friday.
Vicky Ajok is on trial in Damascus, accused of murdering her employer, 87-year-old Syrian actress Huda Shaarawi, in late January. Authorities allege Ajok confessed to causing fatal injuries during a confrontation. However, reports that a death sentence had already been handed down have been disputed by officials in both nations.
Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, stated that Kampala is leveraging all diplomatic channels to ensure Ajok receives justice, calling for clemency from the Syrian government.
“The government of Uganda is doing everything possible through our missions in Egypt accredited to Damascus to ensure that she gets full justice and if possible, release,” Okello Oryem said.
“We do not believe that Vicky Ajok did murder her employer… We think there is more to this story than meets the eye. We call upon the government of Syria to forgive Ajok for whatever crimes they allege against her, because we are very sure, based on what she has told us that she is innocent and did not cause that death.”
The minister added that he has personally contacted his Syrian counterpart and also appealed to the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs to intervene in the case. “I hope that the Syrian authorities will listen and release Ajok,” he said.
While the prospect of the death penalty has sparked alarm, the Syrian authorities have moved to clarify the legal situation, urging against the spread of misinformation. Dr. Tamouh Moustafa, the Honorary Consul of the Syrian Arab Republic in Uganda, confirmed that no conviction or execution date has been set, and the legal process is ongoing.
Dr. Moustafa explained that while the charge carries a potential death sentence under Syrian law, it is “not automatic or immediate.” He noted that courts are permitted to consider mitigating factors such as mental health and the circumstances of the incident. He also highlighted that under local legal traditions, a sentence can be reduced if the victim’s family forgives the accused.
Ajok’s family and representatives have disputed the circumstances surrounding her alleged confession, which was reportedly recorded in a video. The Ugandan government’s intervention follows calls from civil society groups and human rights advocates who have raised concerns about the treatment of migrant domestic workers abroad and have demanded legal access to Ajok.
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