Giovanni Di Stefano [defense lawyer for Taha Ramadan; Studio Legale Internazionale, Rome]: "The defence counsel team for Taha Ramadan have filed with the IHT [Iraqi High Tribunal] the appeal in the re-sentencing of Mr Ramadan which substituted life imprisonment to that of the death sentence. I have also taken the steps at requesting President Talabani under the extenuating circumstances to commute the sentence of death to that of life imprisonment as permitted under Iraqi Law. I have deposited the request for commutation with the Iraqi Embassy in Rome since President Talabani was unable to receive such personally whilst I was in Jordan having returned from Baghdad attending my clients. The grounds of appeal are based upon well established recognised laws.

Whatever is decided by the Appeal Court in Baghdad (which incidentally is the same Appeal Court that without solicitation of the Prosecutor referred the sentence of life imprisonment back to the Trial Court) I hope that President Talabani will use the powers vested in him to intervene under these circumstances. We have seen the aftermath of the three executions and the ICC has opened an investigation pursuant to my request dated 16th January 2007 into the executions. If Iraq is to heal then in any healing process any bleeding must be stopped. It is why this execution must be halted to avoid further spillage of blood. President Talabani has now to decide which path he prefers to take Iraq and any reconciliation must commence with the commutation of any death sentence."