HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FILES BRIEF REGARDING DEATH SENTENCE IN CASE OF TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN IN IRAQ

8 February 2007


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour filed a legal brief with the Iraqi High Tribunal yesterday, Thursday, 8 February, asserting that international law prohibits the imposition of the death penalty in the case of Taha Yassin Ramadan. The High Commissioner's intervention was submitted in connection with the Court's reconsideration of the sentence of Ramadan, a co-defendant alongside Saddam Hussein, Awad Bandar and Barzan Hassan in proceedings concerning events at Dujail.

In the brief (see links below for brief in Arabic and English), the High Commissioner argues that the Court's imposition of the death sentence on Taha Yassin Ramadan would violate Iraq's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Covenant, which Iraq has ratified, provides that a death sentence may only be imposed following proceedings conducted in strict adherence to due process requirements, and guarantees the right to seek a commutation or pardon. In the circumstances, the High Commissioner submits, the Court should refrain from imposing the death sentence.

Arabic: http://www.ohchr.org/english/docs/arbour_amicus_curiae_brief_ar.pdf

English: http://www.ohchr.org/english/docs/arbour_amicus_curiae_brief_en.pdf



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