Middle East News
Iraq executes 14 convicts for terrorism and crimes
Feb 8, 2012, 9:56 GMT
Baghdad - Iraqi authorities Wednesday executed 14 people convicted of terrorism and criminal charges, the Iraqi Alsumaria News website reported.
Justice Ministry spokesman Haider al-Saadi was quoted by the website as saying a leading militant in the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq was among those executed.
He added that the executions were compliant with Iraq's anti-terrorism and penal codes.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay last month said she was shocked by Iraq's execution rate and voiced concern about the fairness of the country's judicial system.
According to a recent UN report, the total number of individuals sentenced to death in Iraq since 2004 is believed to stand at more than 1,200.
It added that the death penalty could be imposed in Iraq for around 48 crimes, including non-fatal offences such as - under certain circumstances - damage to public property.
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