Iraq executes 17 convicts for terrorism

Baghdad, Aug 20: The Iraqi government has executed 17 convicted prisoners, including an Egyptian and two Iraqi women, over terror charges and criminal acts, an official announcement said on Monday.

The Ministry of Justice carried out executions of 17 convicts with most of them found guilty over terror charges, "and their rules were final decisions signed by the presidency", reported Xinhua, citing the justice ministry.

Sixteen of the convicts were executed in accordance with the anti-terrorism law, including the Egyptian and the two women, while the other one was executed for criminal offence.

The rising number of executions in Iraq have sparked calls to stop use of capital punishment by the UN mission in Iraq, the European Union and some international human rights groups, which have criticized the lack of transparency in Iraqi courts.

The Iraqi government reinstated capital punishments in August, 2004, despite it being suspended by then US administrator for Iraq in June, 2003, about a year after the US-led invasion in the country.

IANS