IRAQ: AL-MALIKI, ISLAM AND CONSTITUTION AUTHORISE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki publicly rebuked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's call for the country to halt executions while standing beside him at a joint news conference.
Despite widespread calls for a moratorium due to major problems with the country's criminal justice system, Iraq executed at least 169 people last year, its highest such figure since the 2003 US-led invasion, placing it third in the world, behind just China and Iran.
"I have urged the prime minister and Iraqi government to put a moratorium on the death penalty," Ban said in response to a question during the news conference with Maliki in Baghdad.
But Maliki replied that Iraqis would not accept murderers being allowed to live, and said executions were permitted under the Constitution and Islam.
"We respect UN decisions and human rights, but we do not believe that the rights of someone who kills people must be respected," Maliki said.
Iraq has faced widespread criticism from diplomats, analysts and human rights groups who say that due to a problematic justice system, those being executed are not necessarily guilty of the crimes for which they were sentenced to die.