Iraq carries out first executions since Saddam News
Iraq carries out first executions since Saddam

[JURIST] Three convicted murders were executed in Iraq Thursday, marking the first time the death penalty has been used since Saddam Hussein [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive] lost power in 2003. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani [Wikipedia profile] opposes the death penalty and refused to sign the men's death sentences after they were convicted of murder, rape and kidnapping, but Talabani's deputy signed on behalf of the presidency [JURIST report]. Many Iraqis had hoped for the death penalty to be outlawed after the fall of the Baath party [Aljazeera backgrounder] but Iraqi government spokesman Laith Kubba has said, "This is not an easy thing to do. Despite all the condemnation from states who want us to abolish capital punishment, I think capital punishment will help us deter some criminals." Reuters has more.

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THIS DAY @ LAW

John Brown hanged

On December 2, 1859, militant abolitionist John Brown was hanged for murder and treason in the wake of an unsuccessful attack on the US armory at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Read John Brown's last speech to the court at his trial.