Iraq has 1,000 prisoners on death row: Amnesty

Iraq has at least 1,000 people under sentence of death and is continuing to hang dozens of convicts, Amnesty International said in a critical report on Tuesday, noting that the democratically-elected government had failed to tackle the issue. The human rights watchdog cited several recent examples of executions which it said showed that use of the death penalty was widespread and lacking in transparency, despite the overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein six years ago. "In July 2009, at least 1,000 prisoners were believed to be on death row, including about 150 prisoners who had exhausted all means of appeal or clemency," the report said. "On May 3, 2009 the Iraqi authorities were reported to have carried out 12 executions," Amnesty said, noting the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights then called for an Iraqi moratorium and review of death sentences. "Despite this important intervention, the Iraqi authorities are reported to have carried out 19 more executions -- hanging 18 men and one woman on June 19," the report added.