Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Executions in Iraq, usually carried out by hanging, have increased this year despite international calls for a moratorium. AP Photo/Denis Farrell, file
Human Rights

Iraq executions top 150 this year so far

The level of death sentences carried out is at highest since 2008 – even though critics say that conviction procedures fall short of international standards.

IRAQ HAS CONFIRMED seven more executions, pushing the number of people put to death this year to more than 150 in defiance of widespread international condemnation.

Those executed, who included a Libyan, had all been convicted of offences related to “terrorism”, a statement posted on the justice ministry website on Thursday said.

They bring to at least 151 the number of people put to death by Iraqi authorities this year, compared to 129 for all of 2012, according to an AFP tally based on reports from the ministry and officials.

The statement, which was accompanied by an image of a noose, listed 19 executions between November 7 and 17 , but 12 of them had already been announced by a ministry official earlier this week.

The statement named the Libyan put to death as Adel Omar Mohammed, adding that he had been convicted of carrying out two car bombings.

The list of executions

In a departure from its normal practice, the ministry published the names of those executed, and the offences they had been found guilty of.

Executions in Iraq, usually carried out by hanging, have increased this year despite persistent international calls for a moratorium.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said this year that Iraq’s criminal justice system was “not functioning adequately.”

She highlighted “numerous convictions based on confessions obtained under torture and ill-treatment, a weak judiciary and trial proceedings that fall short of international standards.” She added:

The application of the death penalty in these circumstances is unconscionable, as any miscarriage of justice as a result of capital punishment cannot be undone.

But Iraqi Justice Minister Hassan al-Shammari has insisted that the executions are carried out only after an exhaustive legal process.

A level not seen since 2008

The growing use of the death penalty comes as violence in Iraq has reached a level not seen since 2008, when the country was just emerging from a brutal sectarian conflict.

More than 5,800 people have died so far this year in surging unrest that has prompted Iraq to appeal for international help in combating militancy.

But diplomats and analysts say that Baghdad has not done enough of its own to address the root causes of the bloodshed.

- © AFP, 2013

Iraqis blame government for not stopping Eid attacks>
One person became a refugee every four seconds last year>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
20
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.