Written question asked by Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 16 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 March 2009. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: Capital Punishment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received of the Iraqi judicial authorities confirming death sentences against 128 Iraqi prisoners; and what steps his Department is taking on the matter.

Answer: Following reports of an imminent move to carry out the death sentences of 117 individuals on death row at Kadhamiyah-Max Prison in Iraq, the UK joined other EU member states in supporting a démarche against the sentences delivered on 8 March 2009 by the Czech EU presidency to Iraqi vice-president Tareeq al-Hashemi and to the head of the Iraqi Prime Minister's office. Vice-president al-Hashemi said he had no information about the enforcement of these sentences which had been passed by the courts in full compliance with Iraqi law and the Iraqi Constitution. We will continue to pursue the Iraqi government on this matter, including making clear our position on the death penalty.

Secondary information