Baghdad's decision to re-establish the death penalty...

Baghdad's decision to re-establish the death penalty ahead of the war crimes trial of Saddam Hussein evoked a mixed reaction in Europe, recalling the split across the continent over the war that toppled the Iraqi leader. Germany and France, two of the most vocal anti-war opponents, strongly stated their opposition - without exception - to the death penalty and called on Iraqi authorities to ensure Saddam got a fair trial.
In Berlin, the government's top human rights official, Claudia Roth, criticized Baghdad's move to reinstate capital punishment, which was suspended during the US occupation. "To start out this way does not send a good signal," Roth told The Associated Press. "I think it would have been a signal of democratic strength had they not reinstated the death penalty in Iraq."
France called on Iraqi justice officials to hold a trial that conforms to principles of international law, and the government reiterated its opposition to the execution of convicts. The 25-member European Union intended to let Iraq know of its opposition to the death penalty, said Emma Udwin, external relations spokeswoman for the EU Commission.
While capital punishment was outlawed across the continent, attitudes hardened farther east among the newer EU members, where support for the war was strong. Latvian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Rets Plesums said that whatever happened to Saddam after his trial was a matter of concern for Iraq - not the Baltic state. "We are hoping that the new Iraqi courts will conduct the trial as fairly as possible, but I don't think our government will offer an opinion about what happens to Saddam Hussein," he said. "It's not our business."
Poland, another supporter of the war on Iraq, offered a similar view. "Our reaction is obvious: this is a sovereign decision of an independent court and of the Iraqis themselves," said Boguslaw Majewski, spokesman for Poland's Foreign Ministry. Roman Kuzniar, a political scientist at the Warsaw University, said the list of crimes committed by Saddam Hussein "would justify the death penalty."
Turkey, a Muslim nation with aspirations to join the EU, formally ended executions as part of its bid for membership. But many Turks still felt capital punishment was justified in some cases. "The conscience of the people will not be satisfied if he doesn't face the death penalty," said Burhan Kuzu, a top lawmaker from Turkey's governing Justice and Development Party. "If they give the death penalty to him, this decision will not disturb me," Kuzu said.