Foreign Office Minister urges Iraq to halt executions
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt commented on reports that Iraq has executed 26 people over the past few days.
“I am very concerned by the execution of 26 people over the past few days in Iraq. These latest executions bring the total number of people executed since the start of the year to around 96, more than for the whole of 2011.
“We accept that the security situation in Iraq remains difficult, but the UK continues to oppose the use of the death penalty as a matter of principle. We also believe that there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value; and we recall that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable. We have reminded the Government of Iraq of our stance, and we call on the Government of Iraq to introduce a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, with a view to its abolition.”