Iraq’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) regarding the death penalty

In anticipation of the review of Iraq by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva on March 7-8, ECPM and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty are submitting an alternative report to the Committee on the application of the death penalty in Iraq. This report, entitled “Iraq’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) regarding the death penalty”, highlights the dysfunctions of the Iraqi judicial system with regard to the death penalty, the particular conditions of detention of prisoners sentenced to death, the frequent use of torture before trials and in prison, and the specificities of death sentences for terrorism. Numerous recommendations are formulated therein for the Committee members to bring to the attention of the Iraqi authorities.

• Iraq is one of the five most executing countries in the world, with more than 7,900 people currently on death row, including eleven French citizen. On Sunday, February 13, two people were sentenced to death, including a police officer; 18 are awaiting trial.

• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966, is one of the main universal conventions protecting human rights, notably protecting the right to life and prohibiting torture. It has been ratified by Iraq.

For more information, see also our brochure on “The process of abolishing the death penalty in member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)“, of which Iraq is a member along with 56 other states.