50 prisoners face 'imminent execution' in Iraq: UN experts
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — United Nations Human Rights experts have said they are 'concerned' over reports that 50 people face imminent execution in Iraq over terror-related crimes, just a week after similar executions in Nasiriyah.
Some 50 prisoners convicted of terrorism-related crimes are set to be executed on Monday, according to a statement published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The experts have "serious concerns" over the conduct of the trials and confessions extracted through torture, according to the statement.
"We strongly urge the Iraqi Government to respect its international legal obligations and to immediately halt further plans to execute prisoners,” it added.
Approximately 4,000 prisoners, most of them imprisoned for terror-related crimes, are on death row in Iraq.
International concern has been expressed about trial and detention conditions for Islamic State (ISIS) group suspects in Iraq, including the use of the death penalty sentencing for both Iraqi and foreign nationals convicted of ISIS involvement, the use of violence and torture in prisons, and the overcrowding of Iraqi facilities holding ISIS suspects and their kin.
Authorities executed 21 terror convicts at Nasiriyah's notorious prison on Monday.
“Any death sentence carried out following an unfair trial or on the basis of an ambiguous law, amounts to an arbitrary deprivation of life,” the experts said. “When carried out on a widespread and systematic basis, arbitrary executions may well amount to crimes against humanity and may entail universal criminal responsibility for any official involved in such acts.”
The European Union called on Iraq to abolish capital punishment in a statement released on Thursday.
“The European Union considers the death penalty a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent to crime,” read the statement from the European External Action Service.
Some 50 prisoners convicted of terrorism-related crimes are set to be executed on Monday, according to a statement published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The experts have "serious concerns" over the conduct of the trials and confessions extracted through torture, according to the statement.
"We strongly urge the Iraqi Government to respect its international legal obligations and to immediately halt further plans to execute prisoners,” it added.
Approximately 4,000 prisoners, most of them imprisoned for terror-related crimes, are on death row in Iraq.
International concern has been expressed about trial and detention conditions for Islamic State (ISIS) group suspects in Iraq, including the use of the death penalty sentencing for both Iraqi and foreign nationals convicted of ISIS involvement, the use of violence and torture in prisons, and the overcrowding of Iraqi facilities holding ISIS suspects and their kin.
Authorities executed 21 terror convicts at Nasiriyah's notorious prison on Monday.
“Any death sentence carried out following an unfair trial or on the basis of an ambiguous law, amounts to an arbitrary deprivation of life,” the experts said. “When carried out on a widespread and systematic basis, arbitrary executions may well amount to crimes against humanity and may entail universal criminal responsibility for any official involved in such acts.”
The European Union called on Iraq to abolish capital punishment in a statement released on Thursday.
“The European Union considers the death penalty a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent to crime,” read the statement from the European External Action Service.