Iraq sentences 8 to death on terror-related charges
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Baghdad court issued death sentences on Sunday for eight individuals charged with aiding two suicide bombers for attacks which took place in Iraq around nine years ago.
A statement from the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court said that the eight men who were sentenced had “confessed to transporting two suicide bombers who blew themselves up in Bab al-Sharqi area and al-Wathba Square in 2015,” referring to two popular shopping locations in the Iraqi capital.
The sentences were issued in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Law, the statement added.
At least 19 people were killed and dozens others were wounded as a result of two suicide bombings that targeted central Baghdad in 2015. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks at the time.
Since the rise of ISIS in 2014, thousands of people have been detained across Iraq for suspected links to terrorist groups, including ISIS, while hundreds have been executed.
The United Nations has criticized Iraq’s trials of ISIS suspects, saying the proceedings have not met fair trial standards and raising concerns about allegations of torture.
Amnesty International criticized Iraqi authorities in April for carrying out the death sentences of 13 men who were executed on the same day in Nasiriyah, saying the prisoners were denied fair trials and expressed concern that many others have been executed secretly.
More than 8,000 people are purportedly on death row in Iraq with at least 150 in imminent danger of execution, according to Amnesty.
A statement from the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court said that the eight men who were sentenced had “confessed to transporting two suicide bombers who blew themselves up in Bab al-Sharqi area and al-Wathba Square in 2015,” referring to two popular shopping locations in the Iraqi capital.
The sentences were issued in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Law, the statement added.
At least 19 people were killed and dozens others were wounded as a result of two suicide bombings that targeted central Baghdad in 2015. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks at the time.
Since the rise of ISIS in 2014, thousands of people have been detained across Iraq for suspected links to terrorist groups, including ISIS, while hundreds have been executed.
The United Nations has criticized Iraq’s trials of ISIS suspects, saying the proceedings have not met fair trial standards and raising concerns about allegations of torture.
Amnesty International criticized Iraqi authorities in April for carrying out the death sentences of 13 men who were executed on the same day in Nasiriyah, saying the prisoners were denied fair trials and expressed concern that many others have been executed secretly.
More than 8,000 people are purportedly on death row in Iraq with at least 150 in imminent danger of execution, according to Amnesty.