Human Rights Watch: Justice system in Iraq lacks transparency

The Human Rights Watch Organization  raised serious questions about whether Iraq’s justice system meets international fair trial standards. In a statement released on Wednesday, the organization highlighted the urgent need for a moratorium on capital punishment in Iraq.               

According to HRW, Iraqi authorities executed six prisoners with no prior notice on October 4, 2012, eleven prisoners on October 7, and another six prisoners on October 8. A statement released by Justice Ministry officials on October 8 stated that Iraq had executed 23 people convicted of “criminal and terrorist offenses” since October 4, bringing the total as of Monday’s executions to 119 and making the country a leading user of the death penalty in the region.                 

Iraqi officials contend, when challenged about the death penalty, that it is rooted in cultural tradition according to the organization. But the prevalence of unfair trials and torture in detention, particularly in national security and terrorism-related cases, “raises serious concerns and makes the lack of transparency in Iraq’s imposition of the death penalty particularly egregious,” Human Rights Watch said.