128 People Facing Imminent Execution in Iraq

MDE 14/009/2009

Amnesty has been informed by the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council informed that Iraq’s Presidential Council has ratified the death sentences of 128 people, all of whom now face imminent execution. No details are known about the identities of these people.

You can write to President Jalal Talabani; Vice-Presidents Tariq al-Hashimi and ‘Adil ‘Abdul Mahdi, with copies to Prime Minister Nuri Kamil al-Maliki; the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hoshyar Zebari, the Minister of Human Rights; Wajdan Mikhail Salam and the Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Ghanim Taha A AL-SHIBLI. Send all letters care of the embassy, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq, 48 Culgoa Circuit, O'Malley ACT 2606, and ask them to forward them to their addressees with urgency.

My letter is below:

His Excellency Mr Ghanim Taha A AL-SHIBLI                    

Ambassador                                                                              

Embassy of the Republic of Iraq                                                                                                  

48 Culgoa Circuit                                                                                                                              

O’Malley  ACT  2606                                                         

Ole Koksvik

Philosophy, RSSS

The Australian National University

Canberra ACT 2600

AUSTRALIA

Monday, 16 March 2009

Your Excellency,

RE: FEAR OF IMMINENT EXECUTION

I am a student at the Australian National University, an Norwegian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident, and a member of Amnesty International. I am writing to express my concern that 128 people are facing imminent execution in your country, the death sentences of which were ratified by Iraq’s Presidential Council earlier this month. 

I strongly urge the authorities in your country to commute these 128 death sentences along with all the death sentences pending in Iraq.

I also call on Iraqi authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on executions in your country.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and hear my concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Ole Koksvik