[Deathpenalty] death penalty news---worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

May 3


IRAQ:

Court sentences four Iraqis and a Saudi man to death


An Iraqi criminal court has condemned 4 Iraqis and a Saudi national to
death for kidnapping and leading violent groups.

The same court has sentenced 8 more Iraqis to 30 years in prison for
illegal possession of arms and 7 others to jail terms ranging from seven
to 10 years.

Iraqi courts have been issuing scores of death sentences and at least 200
people have been executed in the past 2 years.

The harsh penalties are said to be part of the governments drive to halt
the spiral of violence but the executions have apparently failed in
containing it.

Iraqi security and army as well as U.S. occupation troops have the powers
to arrest Iraqis without trial. Iraqi and U.S. jails are crammed with
prisoners much higher than their capacity causing serious human rights
violations.

More 13,000 Iraqis are said to be languishing in U.S.-protected jails
without trial. Iraqi courts have no jurisdiction over U.S. troops or their
practices in Iraq.

(source: Azzaman.com)