UN condemns execution of 38 prisoners in Iraq

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

The United Nations on Friday condemned the executions of 38 men at a prison in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah over terrorism-related crimes.

"We are deeply shocked and appalled at the mass execution on Thursday of 38 men at a prison in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, Iraq, which once again raises huge concerns about the use of the death penalty in the country," Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Friday.

"Given the flaws of the Iraqi justice system, it appears extremely doubtful that strict due process and fair trial guarantees were followed in these 38 cases. This raises the prospect of irreversible miscarriages of justice and violations of the right to life," Throssell warned.

Noting that there were 106 executions in Iraq this year, Throssell said: "We once again urge the Iraqi authorities to halt all executions, establish an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty and carry out an urgent and comprehensive review of the criminal justice system."

In September, there was another mass hanging of 42 prisoners in the country in a single day.