Over 900 people on death row in Iraq face imminent execution ,Some of them are likely to have been sentenced after unfair trials but that did not stop The Iraqi authorities from planning the executions of more than 900 people on death row who have exhausted their legal appeals and could be put to death at any time, before the date of Iraqi election in 2010
The prisoners, who include 17 women, are said to have had their death sentences ratified by the Presidential Council, the final step before executions are carried out.

Iraq has executed at least 120 prisoners this year and 900 remain on death row, human rights group Amnesty International has said in a statement,The rights watchdog urged Baghdad to stop the executions of all people condemned to death, adding that “some are likely to have been sentenced after unfair trials,” according to the statement released late on Friday,”At least 120 people are known to have been executed in Iraq so far this year,” said the London-based organization, “In a country which already has one of the highest rates of execution in the world, the prospect that this statistic may rise significantly is disturbing indeed,” said Philip Luther, deputy director of Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa programme.

Baghdad reintroduced the death penalty in 2004, after a brief moratorium immediately following the US-led invasion of the country in 2003. Those sentenced to death are usually hanged ,According to Amnesty, at least 285 people were sentenced to death in Iraq and 34 executed in 2008. In 2007, at least 199 were sentenced and 33 executed.

government is reportedly trying to present itself as being tough on crime and capable of overcoming the difficult security situation in the country, before the national elections in 2010,Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is an ardent supporter of capital punishment, but President Jalal Talabani opposes its use,Opposition politicians have expressed concern that executions may be carried out to allow the ruling al-Da’wa party to gain political advantage ahead of the elections. They have called on the government to temporarily suspend all executions.

Resources:
1- Amnesty international report of 2009 on Iraq
2- www.fulcoverage.com

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