70,000 people killed in Iraq since 2003, says Human Rights Ministry
14/05/2012 13:53ERBIL, May 14 (AKnews) - The Iraqi Human Rights Ministry said today that the death toll in the country due to violence since 2003 has reached 70,000, while the number of injured people as a result of attacks has reached 250,000.
A statement from the ministry quoted Iraqi Human Rights Minister Mohammed Shayaa al-Sudani as saying that there are a large number of orphans and widows according to the statistics.
With regard to the abolition of the death penalty in Iraq, Sudani said: "Iraq decided to stop the death penalty, but after the rise in violence in the country in 2004 the punishment was re-activated.
"The decision to stop the death penalty in Iraq goes back to the Council of Representatives, which is the legitimate representative of the people."
The official added that some 350 death sentences have been implemented in Iraq since 2003 out of 1200 provisions issued during the period.
By Aso Haji
RN/DM/AKnews
