The first mass execution in years took place in Iraq, human rights organization Human Rights Watch announced on Wednesday. The executions took place without warning or notification to the prisoners’ relatives. The prisoners sentenced to death were announced over the loudspeaker in the infamous Nasiriyah Prison and executed shortly afterwards.
“The resumption of mass executions in Iraq is a horrific development,” Human Rights Watch said. The mass execution took place on December 25 at Nasiriyah Prison – the only prison where the death penalty is carried out, the organization reported. It was the first mass execution since the execution of 21 men on November 16, 2020.
Families were not informed
The prisoners were executed “without regard to fundamental rights,” Human Rights Watch said. An inmate told his lawyer that the thirteen affected men had been summoned over the prison loudspeaker the night before before being taken from their cells and eventually killed the next morning. They were not allowed to call their families or lawyers before their execution.
In this post you can see the Nasiriyah maximum security prison:
Human Rights Watch: “Terrible development”
“The resumption of mass executions in Iraq is a horrific development,” warns Sarah Sanbar, Iraq researcher at Human Rights Watch. She calls for an immediate suspension of executions. She pointed to well-documented shortcomings in Iraq’s legal system that deny defendants a fair trial.
Lawyer: ‘I do not have access to the files’
A lawyer representing several prisoners in Nasiriyah prison also confirmed this to the organization. In some cases, he doesn’t even know why his clients are being charged. “I don’t even have access to the files,” he complained – even after months of calling every court in Iraq, he got no information.
According to the organization, the mass executions are now being carried out in secret to avoid negative headlines. She points out that the verdicts are often based solely on the defendants’ confessions, some of which are extorted under torture. According to Human Rights Watch, 2017 was a particularly bloody year in Iraq: 41 and 38 prisoners were executed in two mass executions. It is estimated that there are currently 8,000 people on death row in Iraq.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
