|
Iraq to restore death penalty after 30th
Iraq is to restore the death penalty after the return of sovereignty later this month, in a measure which could affect ousted president Saddam Hussein, Justice Minister Malik Dohan al-Hassan said on Sunday. "The death penalty is suspended in Iraq but with the return of sovereignty, nothing obliges us to maintain this suspension. We want to re-institute it for very specific cases," he told AFP. "Under Saddam Hussein, there were some 120 crimes punishable by death but we are going to narrow it down," the minister said. The justice minister, less than a week after his appointment, was adamant that Saddam deserved no less than the firing squad. "Some people ask me if Saddam Hussein can escape a death sentence. For me, his case is very simple. He was the head of the armed forces and he deserted. According to his own laws, his crime is already punishable by death," he said.Works for me. I hope the UN guy-Barwhomi- and anti-death penalty coalition partners donât get their panties in a twist over Iraqâs decision. Posted by: rex 2004-06-07 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=34861 |