Roj Bash Kurdistan

An Iraqi court issued the death sentence on the Iraqi Vice President Tariq al- Hashimi, a judicial source said.

PUKmedia

KurdInEurope wrote:I apologise for my ignorance, but what did he do to get this punishment?

apparently he ran death squads since 2009, they did nothing to him, after US left, he fled "via baghdad" airport to Erbil, then they were asking Kak Massod to hand him over, and Barzani was like "excuse me, if he was involved in those acts since 2009, why bring it up after the US leaves ? and if he is guilty why let him flee iraq via baghdad airport?" so Barzani refused to hand him over and told them its not his problem, he later was asked to leave kurdistan he is now sheltered by turkey.

With all due respect heval this Hashimi also hates Kurds, well so does Maliki but non are innocent is my point.

i am not defending him, but i am stating how stupid Iraqi officials are .

Turkey: We will not hand over Hashemi to Baghdad under any circumstances

Shafaq News / Sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Ankara will not hand over the Vice President, Tareq al-Hashemi to Baghdad "under any circumstances".

The sources said in remarks to the Turkish press briefed by "Shafaq News", that “Hashemi resident in Istanbul, who was sentenced to death in absentia in Baghdad has met on Sunday the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu at his home in Ankara and took guarantees from him of not handing him over and let him stay in Turkey to whenever he wants.”

This was considered as a response from Turkey to what it has said as sectarian policies of Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki.

The judiciary has issued on Sunday a sentence in absentia to death by hanging on Hashemi after being convicted on terrorism charges and managing "death squads".

The court also sentenced Hashemi's office manager to death as well as his son-in-law, Ahmed Qahtan.

The Supreme Judicial Council decided to trial Hashemi in absentia on three murders charges, as these issues are related to the assassination of a director general at the Department of national Security, an officer at the Interior Ministry and a lawyer.

Kurdistan warns of aggravation of Iraq's crisis after Hashemi

ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Iraq's Kurdistan province's presidency warned of aggravation of political crisis in Iraq due to the death sentence against Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi by the Iraqi criminal court on Sunday, Kurdistan Presidency official spokesman said on Monday.

In a statement, the spokesman added that the independence of Iraqi judiciary and respect of its verdicts must be respected by all, noting that it is unfortunate matter to issue a death sentence in absentia against al-Hashemi during these tense circumstances that the country was going through.The statement warned that the court's verdict could aggravate the crisis and trigger ideological conflicts, calling on all parties to solve this issue as soon as possible.

The Iraqi criminal court sentenced al-Hashemi, who currently resides in Turkey, and chief of his office Ahmad Al-Qahtan to death in absentia for murder of lawyer Suhad Al-Khafaji and national security officer Talib Balasim.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani sorry for Hashemi's verdict, stress on judicial independence.

President Jalal Talabani expressed his "sorrow for the death verdict against vice-president Tariq al-Hashemi", warning that it will obstruct national reconciliation and stressing the independence of the judicial system.

In a presidential statement, copy received by Aswat al-Iraq, Talabani stressed necessity "to respect the judicial verdict, but my duty was to pacify all parties to hold a National Conference to solve all issues,www.ekurd.net including Hashemi's case".

"I feel sorry for the verdict, while Hashemi is holding his position as vice-president, which matter will complicate all efforts for comprehensive national reconciliation", he confirmed.

on Sunday, the Higher Criminal Court issued the death sentence in absentia against Hashemi for "terrorism" charges, while he is residing in Turkey for the last few months.

Turkey refused to hand him over to the Iraqi government despite the arrest warrant issued by the Interpol.