Iraq issues 1st death sentence for officer who killed protesters
The criminal court in the Iraqi province of Wasit
has sentenced a police officer, Tariq Malik Kathem, to death by hanging for the
killing of protesters, the first such sentence since mass anti-government
protests began two months ago.
Another officer, Omar Raad Amer, was given a
seven-year prison sentence on charges of neglect.
Lawyer Sajjad Salem, who represents the families of
the slain demonstrators, Hussein Jabbar al-Kinani and Mu'amil Tareq al-Khafaji,
said the death sentence was based on the “premeditated homicide” clause in the
penal code.
“The families of the victims collected evidence
related to the videos documenting Malik targeting demonstrators,” Salem told
Asharq Al-Awsat.
According to Salem, the seven-year prison sentence
issued against Amer came “against the backdrop of article 340 of the penal code
on dereliction of duty.”
Although there was no evidence that he had
deliberately killed any demonstrators, he is being charged on the grounds of
neglecting to monitor officers operating under his command.
He stressed that Sunday’s verdicts are only on two
cases, and that there are three other outstanding cases on the killing of
demonstrators.
