The Death Penalty in Iraq: A Difficult Break With the Past

By February 9, 2012, Iraq had executed 65 people since the beginning of the year. This figure is shocking — even for a country that has experienced high and sustained levels of violence since the US-led invasion in 2003. Less than two months into 2012, Iraq is already among the worst executioners in the world, having reached a record high execution rate. To the outside observer, the situation seems to be racing out of control. As pointed out by Joe Stork from Human Rights Watch, "the Iraqi government seems to have given state executioners the green light to execute at will." Even more disturbing, the executions have occurred amidst continued reports mentioning unfair trials and wide use of evidence obtained under torture in criminal proceedings, despite the assertion by the Iraqi authorities that "all legal guarantees are provided to the accused in all stages of prosecution and until the sentence is carried out."

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Source: JURIST, Nadia Bernaz, February 20, 2012. Nadia Bernaz is a Senior Lecturer and the Program Leader of the MA Human Rights and Business at Middlesex University.