Khafaji criticizes timing of announcing death sentence against Hashimi

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) MP, Mohamed Ridha al-Khafaji, of the Ahrar bloc confirmed that “The timing of the announcement of the death sentence issued against the Vice-President, Tariq al-Hashimi, was not correct because the government was not ready to confront the consequences of this decision.”

He stated to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com) “This announcement cost Iraqis a lot where dozens of them were killed or injured while Hashimi and his son-in-law are residing in the best villas in Turkey.”

“Terrorists proved to be able to launch their attacks at any time they like,” he added.

“The government was able to postpone the trial for another time as it did with the figures of the former regime since some of them are still in the prisons,” he mentioned.

Earlier, The Iraqi Supreme Criminal Court issued a death penalty verdict in absentia against the fugitive Vice President, Tariq al-Hashimi, and the Director of his office, Ahmed Qahtan, for being involved in murdering the lawyer Suhad al-Ubaidi and the national security officer Talib Balasim and his wife.

Judicial source reported to IraqiNews.com “Hashimi and his assistant Qahtan face three death sentences for these crimes,” noting that “The verdict is subject for appeal.”