On March 4, a group of Muslim and Christian faith leaders and attorneys plan to hold a virtual news conference calling on Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to commute the death sentence of 75-year-old Charles “Sonny” Burton, who is scheduled for execution this month for a murder he did not commit.
WHAT: Press Conference with Muslim and Christian Faith Leaders and Attorneys Calling on Gov. Ivey to Commute Charles Burton’s Death Sentence
WHEN: March 4 at 11:00 a.m. ET
SPEAKERS:
-Rabia Chaudry, Attorney, Advocate & Author
-Matt Schulz, Attorney for Charles Burton
-Imam Aswan Abdul-Addarr, Imam of Masjid Baitul Haqq and Charles Burton’s Spiritual Advisor
-Reverend Shane Isner, Pastor, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
BACKGROUND
Mr. Burton has been on death row for more than 30 years for his role in a 1991 robbery at an auto parts store where a customer, Doug Battle, was killed during the crime. He and his accomplice, Derrick DeBruce, along with four other men, took part in the robbery, but it was DeBruce who shot and killed Battle. Burton was outside the store when the killing occurred. DeBruce, now deceased, had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment while Burton remained on death row. While in prison, Mr. Burton became a faith leader and mentor to those around him.
The state plans to execute Mr. Burton, a devout Muslim, this month, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan.
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