Amputation, Branding and the Death Penalty

Cases

Human Rights Watch/Middle East believes large numbers of people have suffered brandings. Iraqi authorities and state-run media have been just as candid about using branding as a method of punishment as they have been regarding amputation.

C Ali Ubaid Abed Ali from Diyala Governorate had his right hand amputated and his forehead branded for stealing a television and money.[65] An Iraqi television broadcast showed pictures of him under anesthesia in the hospital just after the operations. The images showed his branded forhead and his arm in a bandage.[66] The newscaster commenting on Mr. Ali’s condition said “his case should be ‘a lesson to all who might think of violating the rights of others.’”[67]

C Mussa Inad, an Iraqi soldier, suffered a branding on his forehead for desertion. After escaping to Kuwait, he reported that “Iraqi intelligence officers tortured him by tearing a hole in his ear.”[68]

C A man convicted of stealing from a factory and another convicted separately for auto theft were sentenced to have their hands amputated and their foreheads branded. Amnesty International stated it had unconfirmed reports that this sentence was carried out.[69]

Violations of International Human Rights Law

As with amputation, branding constitutes torture and cruel and inhuman punishment. Branding is the searing of the flesh with a hot metal instrument, an intentional state action causing torture and cruel punishment. A scarred mark on the forehead stigmatizes the victim, adding long-term psychological abuse to physical suffering. Moreover, despite the economic sanctions and a rise in crime, Iraq cannot derogate from its obligations under Article 6 of the ICCPR. Therefore, this punishment of branding violates Iraq’s international obligations to uphold and protect its citizens’ human rights.

More at the link. Yes, this is about Iraq.