EUROPEAN UNION. EU OPPOSES APPLICATION OF DEATH PENALTY IN IRAQ

the European Union adopted a declaration in which it expresses its regret that the death penalty had been applied once more in Iraq.
"The European Union was saddened to learn that three Iraqi nationals were executed on 1 September 2005 following a judicial process in Iraq. The EU is of the view that the death penalty does not serve as an effective deterrent and any miscarriage of justice, which might arise in any legal system, would be irreversible. The EU therefore regrets that the Government of Iraq has elected to implement the death penalty in these cases. The EU is strongly opposed to the death penalty and condemns its use. While recognising the sovereign right of the Government of Iraq to decide on judicial sentencing, we strongly urge that the death penalty should be abolished", the declaration read. Romania, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia-Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway allied themselves to the declaration.