For the past two years there has been continuous talk about the “thousands” — or whatever large figure appeals most to you — of Iraqi citizens murdered by their despotic leader.
Well this item I picked up in the news kind of refutes that. [The article was dated December 5, 2004]. At least it raises questions as to how murderous was he?
China carried out almost 90 per cent of the world’s executions last year, putting at least 5,000 people to death, according to an activist group campaigning to end capital punishment.
China is one of 60 countries that still have the death penalty, the Rome-based group Hands Off Cain said in a report issued yesterday. It said other governments carried out more than 500 executions
Amnesty International said in April China put 726 people to death last year – nearly two-thirds of all executions reported. But it said that figure was based on incomplete official information and the true number was believed to be much higher.
Iran had the second-highest number of known executions worldwide last year, with 154, according to Hands Off Cain. It said that as a proportion of its smaller population, the Islamic Republic “applies capital punishment just as much as China”.
Iraq executed at least 113 people before former president Saddam Hussein’s government was toppled on April 9 last year, the group said. The death penalty was suspended during the US administration but restored by the interim government of the Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi.
NOTE: I cannot of course personally account for the discrepancy in the figures for China quoted by “Hands off Cain” and Amnesty International.
But the figure quoted for Iraq for the portion of the year before Hussein was toppled from power seems relatively small compared with the assumed number of citizens that were executed under his regime.
Perhaps someone else might be able to come up with some more precise figures.