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Iraq

Saddam Deputy's Death Sentence Confirmed

2007-03-15

Baghdad, 15 March (AKI) - Iraq's high court on Thursday upheld a death sentence against former Iraqi deputy president Taha Yasin Ramadan, the Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel reported. The court dismissed an appeal by Ramadan's legal team to have the sentence overturned. A lawyer representing the former deputy president, Bushra al-Khalil, was quoted as saying by the Arab daily al-Hayat that he believed his client would be executed "soon". "The Americans have called his (Ramadan's) family asking them to name a person who will be delegated to collect the body for burial following the execution," al-Khalil added. I just hate getting those calls at dinner time An appeals court sentenced Ramadan to death by hanging on 12 February overturning a previous life sentence handed down for his role in the 1982 killing of 148 Shiites the village of Dujail. The death sentence was confirmed despite a plea by UN human rights chief Louise Arbour, who said an execution would violate international law.

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Iraq

UN call for moratorium on executions

2006-11-06

UN human rights chief Louise Arbour today called for a moratorium on executions after former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by an Iraqi court. Does that apply to the Baathists who're running around Iraq cutting people's heads off and blowing up grocery stores? Or does it only apply to the dictators who arranged it? She also called for the rights of defendants to a fair appeal to be “fully respected”. I demand the same right of appeal for the victims of IEDs. “A credible appeals process is an essential part of fair-trial guarantees,” she said in a statement. “This is particularly important in this instance, in which the death penalty has been imposed. Those convicted today should have every opportunity to exhaust their appellate remedies in a fair way, and whatever the outcome of an appeal, I hope the government will observe a moratorium on executions.” "The life of every dictator is precious!" “Guaranteeing the right of a fair trial of persons accused of major human rights violations is key to consolidating and strengthening the very important process of ensuring justice and countering impunity that Iraq has embarked upon.” Ummm... Guaranteeing impunity is a method of countering impunity? That's a new one on me.

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