Iraq executes 11 people convicted of terrorism

BAGHDAD: 11 people were executed on Monday at a prison in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya after they were convicted and sentenced to death of terrorism crimes, two security sources have told Reuters.

Under Iraqi law, terrorism and murder offences are punishable by death, and execution decrees must be signed by the president.The execution on April 22 of 11 people convicted of “terrorism” sparked concern among rights groups, with Amnesty International condemning an “alarming lack of transparency”.

Al-Hut is a notorious prison in Nasiriyah whose Arabic name means “the whale”, because Iraqis believe that those jailed there never walk out alive.The security official said the 11 executed on Monday had been convicted in line with Article 4 of Iraq’s anti-terrorism law.

A health official in Dhi Qar said his department received 11 bodies of men to be handed over to their next of kin, and that all of them were Iraqi nationals.But the security official and the health official were unable to say on what specific charges the 11 had been executed.