Chairwoman of the German Green Party, Angelika Beer,...

Chairwoman of the German Green Party, Angelika Beer, came out against the death penalty for overthrown Iraqi dictator Saddam Husayn. "Regardless of all the atrocities for which Saddam Husayn is responsible, I am strictly against the death penalty," Beer told Bild am Sonntag. "'A bit of torture and a bit of the right to kill" does not exist. Therefore, the death penalty as well as torture must remain a taboo for us Europeans - even though the Americans practice both," the party chairwoman stressed. "The trial of Saddam, who slaughtered so many people, is an opportunity for the new Iraqi leadership to obey the command of democracy: a life term yes, the death penalty no."