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Activists Call on President Biden to End the Federal Death Penalty Before Leaving Office

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A conversation with Death Penalty Action Co-founder and Executive Director Abe Bonowitz. Now that Joe Biden is a lame duck president, activists are holding him accountable to make good on his promise to end the federal death penalty during his remaining six months as president. Biden’s election campaign in 2020 had pledged to end the federal death penalty and incentivize the remaining 27 states that still allow executions to do the same. While he made history as the first president in the United States to openly oppose the death penalty, there has been no movement to actually end federal executions during his nearly four years in office.

Iraq executes 26 men on terrorism charges: ministry

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Iraq has executed 26 men convicted of "terrorism", the justice ministry said on Tuesday, despite widespread international condemnation of Iraq's extensive use of the death penalty.

"The justice ministry carried out the executions of 26 (men) convicted of crimes related to terrorism on Sunday," a statement said, adding that all of those put to death were Iraqis.

It said that the ministry would "continue to carry out sentences against those who have been condemned, after the final decision has been made", despite persistent international calls for Iraq to declare a moratorium on its use of capital punishment.

"All 26 who were executed carried out brutal terrorist crimes against the Iraqi people, and they were tried and condemned, and the verdict was approved by the presidency," Justice Minister Hassan al-Shammari said.

Iraq executed at least 169 people last year, according to an AFP tally based on statements from the justice ministry and reports from officials.

It was the highest figure since the US-led invasion of 2003, and placed it 3rd in the world for the number of executions after only China and Iran.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Iraq to halt executions on a visit to Baghdad this month, but was publicly rebuked by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who said the country does not "believe that the rights of someone who kills people must be respected."

Source: Agence France-Presse, January 21, 2014
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