Iraq executes 13 suspects over ‘terrorism’ charges

Baghdad, April 17: On Monday, 13 convicts were executed on charges of terrorism. “The Ministry of Justice, today Monday, announced the execution of 13 convicts following the completion of legal measures. There were 11 convicts of terrorist crimes, including a car bombing, the assassination of security members or kidnappings,” the ministry announced. 

This is the latest execution announcement in Iraq where many convicted members of ISIS have been handed death sentences in recent months.

In February, a criminal court sentenced 15 Turkish women to death after finding them guilty of membership in ISIS. In the southern city of Nasiriyah 38 prisoners convicted of affiliation with ISIS were executed in December and 42 in September.

The increase of executions in Iraq has sparked calls to stop capital punishment by the UN mission in Iraq, European Union, and some international human rights groups. “Under international law, the death penalty may only be imposed after a strict set of substantive and procedural requirements have been met,” Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said responding to the execution of 42 prisoners in one day in September.

Baghdad has dismissed the international criticism. The Iraqi Ministry of Justice vowed that it is “moving forward with implementing the sentences,” regardless of external pressure. Iraq is among the countries that carried out the most executions in 2017, coming fourth after China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, according to Amnesty International.

In Mosul, 2 bombs exploded at the al-Maash market, killing 5 and wounding 11 people.

A suicide bomber attacked an Abbara police station. At least four were killed and three more were wounded. 20 people were wounded when a hand grenade was tossed at a home in Ramadi.