Amnesty International is greatly concerned by a new surge in executions in
Iraq, despite calls by the international community for Iraq to abolish the
death penalty. On 19 December, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office announced
that a further 13 prisoners had been executed, making 2006 the year with
the highest number of executions since Iraq reinstated the death penalty
in 2004. At least 60 people have been executed in Iraq since the
authorities resumed executions in September 2005, with some 53 reported to
have been executed since the beginning of this year.
According to the government, the 13 men executed on 19 December had been
convicted of murder, rape and torture. One was reported to have confessed
to the killing of 10 people. However, the identities of those hanged have
not been made public and the government gave no details of their trials,
raising concern that at least some of them may have been sentenced after
unfair trials.
According to media reports, after the executions had been carried out the
Iraqi authorities released a short film showing a group of men hooded and
with their hands tied behind their backs - believed to be the 13 men prior
to their execution.
Amnesty International is acutely aware of the grave security situation
currently prevailing in Iraq and recognizes fully the government’s
responsibility to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those who commit
murders and other crimes are brought to justice. In doing so, however, the
Iraqi authorities must abide by their obligations under international law,
including to ensure fair trials, and should not make recourse to the death
penalty. The death penalty is a violation of the right to life and the
ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. Use of this most
extreme penalty will provide no remedy for the grave human rights
situation in Iraq and serves only to devalue further the right to life.
Amnesty International reiterates its call to the Iraqi authorities to
commute all death sentences and abolish the death penalty in law and
practice.
Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org
Please also see:
US marines face Iraq murder trial
Eight US marines have been charged over the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha last year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6198947.stm
No money to treat 9/11 workers, $3 billion a week to fight Iraq?
By Jerry Mazza
Online Journal Associate Editor
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1551.shtml
Iraq, despite calls by the international community for Iraq to abolish the
death penalty. On 19 December, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office announced
that a further 13 prisoners had been executed, making 2006 the year with
the highest number of executions since Iraq reinstated the death penalty
in 2004. At least 60 people have been executed in Iraq since the
authorities resumed executions in September 2005, with some 53 reported to
have been executed since the beginning of this year.
According to the government, the 13 men executed on 19 December had been
convicted of murder, rape and torture. One was reported to have confessed
to the killing of 10 people. However, the identities of those hanged have
not been made public and the government gave no details of their trials,
raising concern that at least some of them may have been sentenced after
unfair trials.
According to media reports, after the executions had been carried out the
Iraqi authorities released a short film showing a group of men hooded and
with their hands tied behind their backs - believed to be the 13 men prior
to their execution.
Amnesty International is acutely aware of the grave security situation
currently prevailing in Iraq and recognizes fully the government’s
responsibility to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those who commit
murders and other crimes are brought to justice. In doing so, however, the
Iraqi authorities must abide by their obligations under international law,
including to ensure fair trials, and should not make recourse to the death
penalty. The death penalty is a violation of the right to life and the
ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. Use of this most
extreme penalty will provide no remedy for the grave human rights
situation in Iraq and serves only to devalue further the right to life.
Amnesty International reiterates its call to the Iraqi authorities to
commute all death sentences and abolish the death penalty in law and
practice.
Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org
Please also see:
US marines face Iraq murder trial
Eight US marines have been charged over the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha last year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6198947.stm
No money to treat 9/11 workers, $3 billion a week to fight Iraq?
By Jerry Mazza
Online Journal Associate Editor
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1551.shtml