The United Nations announced on Wednesday it has a negative stance regarding the legal measures taken on the case of Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, the Sot al-Iraq news center reported.
The absentia and exceptional trials held are not in line with international law standards, have a negative impact on the trend of justice in Iraq and lack guarantees for suspects’ rights, the UN report says.
We have concerns about the accuracy of the accusations related to Tareq al-Hashemi and his security team, the report continues, adding on 15 March 2012 one of Tareq al-Hashemi’s bodyguards died under torture while in custody.
Iraq’s judiciary interrogates suspects without the presence of defense lawyers, degrading the credibility of the testimony and legal measures, the UN said, adding this is the right of the suspect to be represented by a lawyer of his/her choice.
Tareq al-Hashemi and one of his bodyguards by the name of Qahtan were prosecuted through their lawyers, however the defense team faced problems in becoming informed of the case, which has a negative impact on the preparation of their defense case, the UN explains.
Broadcasting suspects’ confessions on Iraqi TV has a negative impact on the independence of judges and examining magistrates, limits the principle of innocence and is a flagrant violation of Iraqi laws and international human rights standards, the report adds.
We will continue to follow up on these judicial cases, the UN concluded.