IRAQ. RESPONSE TO DEATH PENALTY BEING USED TO CONTROL VIOLENCE

it was reported that International human rights organisations had raised concern over the Iraqi prime ministers' recent announcement that the death penalty would be implemented as a way to control ongoing violence and insurgency in the country.
"It's true that they have been having serious security problems in the country but the death penalty certainly is not appropriate. What they are doing is just suppressing human rights in the country. We are against this decision," Middle East spokeswoman for Amnesty International (AI), Nicole Choueiry, said.
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, announced on 16 May in Baghdad that the death sentence would be retained and that the new government would be prepared to use it. He added that insurgents were trying to start open warfare between Shi'ites and Sunnis. Iraq's interim government reinstated the death penalty for crimes including murder, kidnapping and drug running in August 2004.