BAGHDAD/ Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqiya bloc leading member Salman al-Jumaily announced today that his bloc "will not recognize the death penalty in absentia against vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi, describing it as "political".
In a statement issued by his office, he added "we will not recognize this verdict, because the investigations were "not correct or within the law, as well as the defendants were not given the chance to speak before the court".
He expressed his regret that the government interfered in the case "at a time we need to pacify the public opinion".
The Higher Criminal Court sentenced today vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi to death penalty in absentia in charges connected with terrorism.
In breaking news broadcasted by semi-official TV, the verdict was announced against Hashimi and his son-in-law Ahmed Qahtan.
Hashimi is living in Turkey for the last few months.
Turkey did not hand him over to the Iraqi government despite the arrest warrant by the Interpol for "terrorism" charges.
© Aswat Aliraq 2012
