Court sentences three Iraq rebels to death

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

KUT, Iraq: An Iraqi court yesterday sentenced three rebels to death for rape, kidnapping and murder, the first death sentences passed in connection with the ongoing insurgency, as three Romanian journalists captured nearly two months ago were freed.

The three death sentences, passed on men aged 25, 30 and 44, followed their conviction on charges of taking part in 20 different rebel operations during which they killed and captured policemen and raped Iraqi women.

Members of the public attending the trial in the town, 170km southeast of Baghdad, applauded the sentence and shouted “Long live justice”. The special criminal court said the sentences would be carried out “in the coming 10 days”.

The death sentence, by hanging, was widely practised under Saddam Hussein, whose regime was ousted by US forces in April 2003. US occupying forces suspended it, but the Iraqi interim administration of prime minister Iyad Allawi announced its reintroduction in June 2004. Three common law criminals were sentenced to death in Karbala, southern Iraq, a month later for the murder of relatives, but the sentences have yet to be carried out.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Gulf%2C+Middle+East+%26+Africa&month=May2005&file=World_News2005052321537.xml

[LynnTheDem]

1. That should read "the first death sentences passed with an actual TRIAL

FIRST..."

Hanging?

Beheading is barbarious. But hanging is ok.

Death sentences when Hussein was the govt leader of Iraq was bad. But they're ok now with the new govt leaders of Iraq.

Until we decide otherwise.