” “"Iraqi courts must be used for justice, not for revenge". This was stated by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, as he referred to the death sentence for the deputy president of Iraq, Taha Yasin Ramadan, a close collaborator to Saddam Hussein. "This is states Davis a deplorable decision that the international community cannot ignore. Ramadan must be sent off to jail for the crimes he committed, he must not be made a martyr". According to the Secretary General of the CoE, "the sentences that followed the death penalties against some leaders of the former regime, followed by often-sabotaged executions, jeopardise the chance of achieving a reconciled, stable and peaceful Iraq". "Every execution he concludes risks exacerbating chaos and violence. This is one more reason why executions damage the interests of the international community as well, in particular those of those countries that have their forces deployed in Iraq. The time has come to put an end to these executions, and the European Governments must say this out loud".” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” “
