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Amnesty attacks Iraq executions Amnesty condemns Iraq executions
(about 5 hours later)
Iraq is now the world's fourth highest user of the death penalty, says human rights group Amnesty International. Iraq is now the world's fourth highest user of the death penalty, human rights group Amnesty International has said.
In a report, the group says more than 270 people have been sentenced to death since mid-2004 and at least 100 of them have been executed. More than 270 people have been sentenced to death since mid-2004 and at least 100 of them have been executed, the report said.
Only China, Iran and Pakistan used the death penalty more frequently, it said. Only China, Iran and Pakistan used the death penalty more frequently.
Iraq suspended its use of the sentence after Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003, but reintroduced the penalty as a deadly insurgency gripped the country.Iraq suspended its use of the sentence after Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003, but reintroduced the penalty as a deadly insurgency gripped the country.
The former Iraqi leader was himself executed in December.The former Iraqi leader was himself executed in December.
'Unfair trials''Unfair trials'
Amnesty says security has continued to decline despite the reintroduction of capital punishment. Amnesty said security had continued to decline despite the reintroduction of capital punishment.
Last year, at least 65 people were executed, including two women, it said.Last year, at least 65 people were executed, including two women, it said.
"This represents a profoundly retrograde step," the report said. "One that should not be overlooked simply because far larger numbers of lives have been lost due to ongoing violence.""This represents a profoundly retrograde step," the report said. "One that should not be overlooked simply because far larger numbers of lives have been lost due to ongoing violence."
It was entirely predictable that the restoration of the death penalty would ... perpetuate and exacerbate the abuse of human rights Amnesty InternationalIt was entirely predictable that the restoration of the death penalty would ... perpetuate and exacerbate the abuse of human rights Amnesty International
Amnesty called for a moratorium on executions in Iraq, and asked that US and British forces do not give any detainees who have been sentenced to death to Iraqi authorities. Amnesty called for a moratorium on executions in Iraq, and asked that US and British forces do not hand over to the Iraqis any detainees who have been sentenced to death.
It also said that many have been hanged after unfair trials, saying some defendants had made apparent pre-trial confessions - including on television - and later retracted them. It also said that many prisoners have been hanged after unfair trials, saying some defendants had made apparent pre-trial confessions - including on television - and later retracted them.
Many defendants alleged that they were tortured before making the confessions, Amnesty said.Many defendants alleged that they were tortured before making the confessions, Amnesty said.
"It was entirely predictable that the restoration of the death penalty would ... perpetuate and exacerbate the abuse of human rights and come to be seen, as in the case of Saddam Hussein's execution, as an instrument of vengeance far removed from any notions of justice," the report said."It was entirely predictable that the restoration of the death penalty would ... perpetuate and exacerbate the abuse of human rights and come to be seen, as in the case of Saddam Hussein's execution, as an instrument of vengeance far removed from any notions of justice," the report said.