UN urges Iraq to put an end to death penalty

The United Nations mission in Iraq on Friday joined a recent wave of calls for Baghdad to implement a moratorium on its use of the death penalty. The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) statement came after Iraq carried out 21 executions on Monday, and then five more on Wednesday. “UNAMI notes with concern that Iraq has once again implemented the death penalty,” the statement said. “UNAMI reiterates its call on the government of Iraq to consider a moratorium on the implementation of all death sentences.” It warned that unidentified “sources have indicated that more executions may be carried out in the coming days.”