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U.S. | 'I comfort death row inmates in their final moments - the execution room is like a house of horrors'

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Reverend Jeff Hood, 40, wants to help condemned inmates 'feel human again' and vows to continue his efforts to befriend murderers in spite of death threats against his family A reverend who has made it his mission to comfort death row inmates in their final days has revealed the '"moral torture" his endeavor entails. Reverend Dr. Jeff Hood, 40, lives with his wife and five children in Little Rock, Arkansas. But away from his normal home life, he can suddenly find himself holding the shoulder of a murderer inside an execution chamber, moments away from the end of their life. 

20 Death Penalty Sentences Issued in Kurdistan

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The head of the Social Prevention & Protection of Citizens at the Justice Department in Kurdistan said: "To date, 20 death sentences have been issued against citizens charged with "drug trafficking" in this province."

In an interview given on the occasion of "No to Drugs" week in the province of Kurdistan, Hassan Babai stated: "The Justice Department in Kurdistan will deal with drug offenders with the maximum penalty as determined under the law." According to reports by ISNA Babai added: "Most drug dealers and distributors in the province of Kurdistan, have already been arrested."

Babai pointed out that 52% percent of prisoners in Kurdistan have been arrested in relation to narcotic charges and said: "Currently 635 individuals are incarcerated on charges ranging from the use, transportation, storage, distribution, transit and other narcotic related crimes in the province of Kurdistan."

While referencing the 20 death penalty sentences issued to individuals convicted of drug related crimes, Babai, the head of the Social Prevention & Protection of Citizens at the Justice Department in Kurdistan added: "43 people in Kurdistan have also been sentenced to life imprisonment."

Babai referred to drug addiction as a crime and emphasized: "Unless they voluntarily surrender themselves to law enforcement so that they can be referred to rehabilitation centers, drug addicts are considered guilty under the law."

Babai added: "15% of all prisoners incarcerated on drug addiction crimes have also committed other crimes as a result of their drug addiction."

Source: RAHANA, June 28, 2010
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