death penalty news June 6, 2004
IRAQ: Iraq to restore death penalty Iraq will restore the death penalty after the return of sovereignty later this month, in a measure that could affect ousted leader Saddam Hussein, Iraqi justice minister Malik Dohan al-Hassan told AFP. "The death penalty is suspended in Iraq but with the return of sovereignty, nothing obliges to maintain this suspension. We want to reinstitute it for very specific cases," he said. The death penalty was suspended in Iraq by then US Central Command chief General Tommy Franks in April 2003, as the US-led coalition invaded the country and toppled Saddam's regime. (source: AFP / Sydney Morning Herald)
