Iraq executed 18 people this month, eight of them on the same day as an attack on the justice ministry, a top official said on Thursday, despite global condemnation over its ongoing executions.
They were the first confirmed executions this year, after Justice Minister Hassan al-Shammari insisted last week that Baghdad would continue to implement the death penalty in the face of widespread calls for it to issue a moratorium.
Iraq executed at least 129 people last year, according to the justice ministry.
‘On Thursday (14 March), we executed eight, and then on Sunday (17 March), we executed 10,’ Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim told reporters. He said that all 18 were convicted of terror-related offences, and that all were Iraqi men. He declined to give a detailed breakdown.
They were the first confirmed executions this year, after Justice Minister Hassan al-Shammari insisted last week that Baghdad would continue to implement the death penalty in the face of widespread calls for it to issue a moratorium.
Iraq executed at least 129 people last year, according to the justice ministry.
‘On Thursday (14 March), we executed eight, and then on Sunday (17 March), we executed 10,’ Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim told reporters. He said that all 18 were convicted of terror-related offences, and that all were Iraqi men. He declined to give a detailed breakdown.