Iraq reinstates death penalty

2004-08-08 13:46

Baghdad - Iraq on Sunday reinstated its suspended capital punishment law.

This applies to people guilty of murder, endangering national security and distributing drugs, the government announced.

The announcement came a day after the government offered an amnesty to Iraqis who committed minor crimes since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime last year.

The two laws were part of a carrot-and-stick approach by the government to try to put down the 15-month-old insurgency.

Capital punishment had been suspended during the US occupation.

Under Saddam's regime, 114 offences could garner the death penalty.

The new law was more restrictive than that had been. "This is not an open door to execute anyone and everyone, or people whom the government dislikes.

This is not Saddam's law," minister of state Adnan al-Janabi said.

Needed to fight militants

In announcing the law, Janabi and human rights minister Bakhtiar Amin said they regretted the need to bring back the death penalty, but it was needed to fight the militants destabilising the country with car bombings, kidnappings, sabotage and other violence.

"The tough task in front of us in this country is maintaining security and stability, combating terror and organised crime," Amin said.

"I assure you that none of us in the government are comfortable with reinstating capital punishment."

When security returns to the country, the law will be revoked, they said.

It was unclear how the new death penalty law would effect Saddam, who is currently awaiting trial on war crimes charges.

The law also did not specify how the executions were to be carried out, or if they were to be done in public or private.

- AP