UN warns of mass executions in Iraq

UN human rights experts say 50 Iraqi prisoners convicted of terrorism charges are scheduled to be executed on Monday.

Some 4,000 prisoners, most of them charged with terrorism offences, are believed to be on death row in Iraq, according to UN experts [File: Iraq Ministry of Justice via Reuters]

The UN is urging the Iraqi government to postpone all planned executions, saying a majority of the convicts did not get a fair trial.

Already, 21 prisons were executed last week for allegedly carrying out attacks against the state in collaboration with the now defeated Islamic State. 21 other inmates met a similar fate last October.

In total, the UN says there are about 4,000 prisoners, most of them charged with terrorism, on the execution list. Their deaths, according to UN experts, are imminent.

“We strongly urge the Iraqi government to respect its international legal obligations and to immediately halt further plans to execute prisoners,” said the UN investigators, who focus on torture, arbitrary killings and protecting human rights while countering terrorism.

The Iraqi government hasn't commented on the UN's request and has not shown signs of stopping any killings at the moment.

By: Niza Nondo