Iraq executed two people convicted on anti-terror charges today, the justice ministry said, despite international condemnation of Baghdad's use of the death penalty and criticism of the country's judicial system.
The executions, carried out by hanging, were the first to be confirmed since March 13, and brought to at least 46 the total number of people put to death so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on statements from the justice ministry and officials.
The ministry "carried out the hangings on death row of two convicted terrorists for terror crimes," it said in a statement that was accompanied by a photograph of a noose.
The two men executed were Sajid Hamid Ibrahim and Ali Majid Ulaiwi, the statement said.
Ibrahim was convicted for joining a group linked to Al-Qaeda and killing two brothers, while Ulaiwi was put to death for kidnapping three men and killing them.
Iraq has faced widespread criticism from diplomats, analysts and human rights groups who say that due to a flawed justice system, those being executed are not necessarily guilty of the crimes for which they were sentenced to die.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Iraq to halt executions on a visit to Baghdad in January.
But he was publicly rebuked by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who, while standing beside Ban at a joint news conference, said Iraq does not "believe that the rights of someone who kills people must be respected".
The country executed at least 169 people last year, according to an AFP tally.
It was the highest figure since the US-led invasion and placed it third in the world for the number of executions after only China and Iran.
The rise in executions in 2013 and the early part of this year comes as Iraq grapples with its worst prolonged period of violence since it emerged from brutal sectarian fighting that peaked in 2006-2007 and left tens of thousands dead.
