Abdul Awkal was convicted of the 1992 murders of Latife Awkal and Mahmoud Abdul-Aziz. We urge Governor Kasich to consider the following and commute Abdul’s death sentence to life without parole:

• His trial counsel was ineffective for calling a psychiatrist who contradicted the defense’s theory.
• During the penalty phase, counsel failed to provide records of his previous involuntary hospitalization or to present testimony from competent mental health experts.
• There was prosecutorial misconduct in the closing statement, which may have influenced jury members prior to their deliberations.

We deeply sympathize with the family and friends of Latife Awkal and Mahmoud Abdul-Aziz, but we respectfully offer that another death will neither heal nor resolve this tragedy.

Action petitioned for: We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge Governor Kasich to commute the sentence of Abdul Awkal to life without parole.