- Capital punishment in Iraq
Capital punishment inIraq was commonly used by the government ofSaddam Hussein .After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the U.S. administrator,L. Paul Bremer , suspended capital punishment, declaring that "the former regime used certain provisions of the penal code as a means of oppression, in violation of internationally acknowledged human rights."In May 2005, capital punishment was reinstated in Iraq. Iraqi law states that no person over the age of 70 can be executed. [cite news | url = http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/12/4/105110.shtml?s=i | title = Saddam May Escape Hangman's Noose | work = NewsMax.com |date= 2006-12-04 | accessdate = 2007-01-03 ] There is an automatic right to appeal on all such sentences. Iraqi Law requires execution within 30 days of all legal avenues being exhausted. The last legal step, before the execution proceeds, is for the condemned to be handed a "red card". This is completed by an official of the court with details of the judgment and a notice that execution is imminent. [cite news | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/29/news/saddam.php | title = Iraq is preparing for Saddam's hanging | work =
International Herald Tribune |date= 2006-12-29 | accessdate = 2006-12-31 ]In September 2005, three murderers were the first people to be executed since the restoration. Then on
March 9 2006 , an official of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed that Iraqi authorities had executed the firstinsurgent s by hanging. [cite news | url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=266369&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/ | title=More bombs bring death to Iraq | publisher=Mail & Guardian Online | date=2006-03-10 | accessdate=2006-04-27]27 people, including one woman, were executed by the Iraqi government on
September 6 ,2006 , for high crimes against civilians. [cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/09/06/iraq.main/index.html | title = Iraq has months to avert collapse | work =CNN |date= 2006-09-06 | accessdate = 2006-09-06 ]Execution of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging for
crimes against humanity [cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/05/dujail.saddam/index.html | title=Saddam Hussein sentenced to death by hanging| publisher=CNN.com | date=2006-05-11 | accessdate=2006-05-11] onNovember 5 ,2006 , and was executed onDecember 30 ,2006 at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time. During the drop there was an audible crack indicating that his neck was broken, a successful example of a long drop hanging. [cite news | url = http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272610730.shtml | title = Saddam Hussein Hanging Video Shows Defiance, Taunts and Glee | work =National Ledger |date= 2007-01-01 | accessdate = 2007-01-20]By contrast,
Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti , the head of the Mukhabarat, Saddam's security agency, andAwad Hamed al-Bandar , former chief judge, were executed onJanuary 15 ,2007 , also by the long drop method, but Barzan was decapitated by the rope at the end of his fall indicating that the drop was too long. [ [http://news.bostonherald.com/international/view.bg?articleid=177248&format=&page=1] January 15, 2007]
Also, former vice-president
Taha Yassin Ramadan had been sentenced to life in prison onNovember 5 ,2006 , but the sentence was changed to death by hanging onFebruary 12 ,2007 . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6354205.stm Top Saddam aide sentenced to hang] February 12, 2007] He was the fourth and final man to be executed for the 1982 crimes against humanity onMarch 20 ,2007 . This time, the execution went smoothly and without obvious mistake or problem. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070320/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq Saddam's former deputy hanged in Iraq] March 20, 2007]At the Anfal genocide trial, Saddam's cousin
Ali Hassan al-Majid (aka Chemical Ali), former defense ministerSultan Hashim Ahmed al-Tay, and former deputy Hussein Rashid Mohammed were sentenced to hang for their role in theAl-Anfal Campaign against the Kurds onJune 24 ,2007 . [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19394865/ Iraq's "Chemical Ali" sentenced to death] , "MSNBC.com",June 24 ,2007 . Retrieved onJune 24 ,2007 .]References
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