NEWS: Capital Punishment Returns to Iraq

In a recent case, three men in Iraq have been convicted of the charges of murder, rape and kidnapping. The victim's family as well as the community has insisted that these criminals face the death penalty for their crimes, and it looks like they will get there wish. This marks the first time Iraq has seen capital punishment since the US led regime change in Iraq.



During Saddam’s reign in Iraq, public executions were used to squelch political discontent and exercise political power by force and intimidation. Capital punishment has been suspended by U.S. administrator, L. Paul Bremer since the Iraqi invasion in 2003.

People believe this is only a premonition to the kind of punishment that awaits former leader Saddam Hussein.

There's going to be a lot more hangings and executions in iraq as more insurgents are rounded up and detained. I expect that there'll be calls for amnesty after a while. Undoubtedly, lots of insurgency groups will disband from the field but continue on in much smaller numbers underground. Indeed, they'll almost have to, since their arrest, even decades later, will result in their executions.

Hangings were carried out in public under Hussein. I wonder if these hangings will be public also.

It's up to the new iraqi government of course the US will be blamed for the executions.

um, to be blunt, when did it ever leave?

Unless you count the "detainees" where a terrorist can surive anything by simply dropping his weapon, and then waiting to sue at Getmo for a Koran-swirly.

Most activities earn quick death, from military, from tribes, from general lawlessness.

I suppose, this is an "official", Iraqi issued sentence, but still...

Originally posted by XphilesPhan
It's up to the new iraqi government of course the US will be blamed for the executions

.

Executions are "the american way". Wherever the americans step in, executions are next. The Iraqi government has been generously endowed with this special american know-how. Your people causing you trouble? Execute them!

Thats patently absurd. Iraqis were well aware of how to execute criminals long before the US invaded and occupied the place. That statement doesn't even approach sense. Hell, as the US is withdrawing, here from the official political arena, the Iraqis are the ones doing the executing.


Do yo also suggest that these two guys who tortured and ripped out the eyeballs of another person, before killing him, shouldn't be executed, or that it takes 'the corruption of americans' to get a society to execute someone that does that???

Originally posted by Nygdan
Thats patently absurd. Iraqis were well aware of how to execute criminals long before the US invaded and occupied the place. That statement doesn't even approach sense. Hell, as the US is withdrawing, here from the official political arena, the Iraqis are the ones doing the executing.

Iraq is at best the result of American state-building. If this is what you have to show, I hope it is your last attempt. Granted, these middle eastern people can be rude, but shouldn't you teach them a better behavior? Shouldn't you give them something in return for what you take?

Do yo also suggest that these two guys who tortured and ripped out the eyeballs of another person, before killing him, shouldn't be executed, or that it takes 'the corruption of americans' to get a society to execute someone that does that???

Yes, I suggest that these people not be executed. One thing is feeling the pain of others, another is making sensible laws that don't devolve into fascism.

Now now, don't you know, America invented the concept of executions. The guillotine, firing squads, hangings, all those were actually invented by Americans, who travelled back in time to before the creation of the United States with a time machine.

Now the more humane thing to do is to cut off hands of thieves and infidels, or to throw stones at people until they "fall asleep permanently". The Middle East had no concept of putting criminals to death until three years ago.

Of course, that may be the idea of trials and justice are pretty new, like a formal execution for something besides upsetting the local religious tyrant or being a sexually-independent woman.

We can accept the blame for introducing shameful ideas like expecting women to be able to vote and getting drivers licences and other "shameful acts", too.

Sheesh. Lemme get a crowbar to pry my tongue out of my cheek here.

Originally posted by Nygdan
Thats patently absurd. Iraqis were well aware of how to execute criminals long before the US invaded and occupied the place. That statement doesn't even approach sense. Hell, as the US is withdrawing, here from the official political arena, the Iraqis are the ones doing the executing.


Do yo also suggest that these two guys who tortured and ripped out the eyeballs of another person, before killing him, shouldn't be executed, or that it takes 'the corruption of americans' to get a society to execute someone that does that???

Iraq is starting to look like Palestine under the Romans. Unmanageable, expensive, and crucifixions every day.
The situation is dire and the brilliant solutions are transforming a once-advanced country into a cauldron of regional instability. The Americans are now entertaining the notion that they can divide Iraq into semi-autonomous states.
The indefensible practice of executions under American management just highlights the real meaning of American policy: imperialism.