Last Updated: Friday, 25 May 2012, 13:06 GMT  
Title Rights monitors slam Iraq over executions
Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Country Iraq
Publication Date 9 February 2012
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Rights monitors slam Iraq over executions, 9 February 2012, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4f3bc76f2d.html [accessed 28 May 2012]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Rights monitors slam Iraq over executions

February 09, 2012

The U.S.-based monitoring group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized Iraqi authorities for carrying out at least 65 executions since the beginning of this year.

In a February 9 statement, HRW said the Iraqi criminal justice system remains flawed and confessions by suspects are often coerced.

The group urged the Iraqi government to declare an immediate moratorium on all executions.

Fourteen Iraqis, most of them accused of being members of Al-Qaeda, were reported executed on February 8.

An Iraqi official was quoted as telling HRW: "You should expect more executions in the coming days and weeks."

According to the United Nations, more than 1,200 people have been sentenced to death in Iraq since 2004.

Nearly 50 crimes are punishable by execution in the country.

with agency reports

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Topics: Death penalty, Human rights monitors,

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