Subject to the agreement of the House it is proposed that the statements shall not exceed five minutes in each case.
Execution of Journalist — Statements.
Is that satisfactory? Agreed.
I know the House will be deeply saddened by the execution in Iraq of Mr. Farzad Bazoft, a journalist with the Observer newspaper.
Deputies will be aware, both generally and from the Government statement in the Seanad on the Adjournment last night, that last Sunday, the Twelve member states of the European Community had appealed on humanitarian grounds to the Iraqi authorities to exercise clemency in respect of the sentences on Mr. Bazoft and Mrs. Parish. Numerous other appeals for clemency were made by friendly countries and by eminent figures, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Twelve appeal did not achieve its hoped-for result, and the following communiqué is now being issued:
The Twelve members of the European Community are utterly dismayed at the execution in Baghdad of Mr. Farzad Bazoft.
They had appealed to the Iraqi authorities on humanitarian grounds to exercise clemency and are profoundly disappointed that this humanitarian appeal was not heeded.
I think it is no exaggeration to say that the world was shocked by the execution of a journalist working for a reputable newspaper, following a news story. We are all even more shocked by the rapidity with which this barbaric execution was carried out. There is a number of areas involved here, first the basic fundamental issue of the indecency and obscenity of capital punishment. There is also a clear issue relating to the freedom of the press which must concern all of us. There is also a very disquieting issue in relation to what appears to have been a breakdown in the normal system of diplomatic contact. It is ominous indeed that this barbaric execution took place so quickly in spite of strong appeals. That is something that must concern all of us. We live in a world where we are increasingly interdependent and increasingly affected by each other and for one of the nations of the world community to act in this way must be deeply worrying to all of us.
I am very glad that the Twelve have now issued a statement. I commend the Taoiseach and the Government here on arranging for that statement to be issued as quickly as it was. It is important that those who support civilised values and decency in the conduct of nations and people should make our view clear on this occasion.
I thank the Taoiseach for the communique which has been issued this afternoon. I also commend the Taoiseach and the representatives of the 12 for the speed with which they made their plea for clemency. There are fundamental principles at stake in what is taking place. It is interesting that the Iraqi reply to the appeal of the Twelve and the two other appeals from prominent individuals and from Governments and organisations throughout the world was that they regarded such appeals as interference in the internal affairs of Iraq. I recall a similar statement being made by the Peoples Republic of China in relation to the condemnation of the massacre in Tianamen Square.
Governments who seek to have diplomatic relations and live within the normalcy of diplomatic relations make a commitment to live within the tenets of international law. If one is to say that appeals such as those that have been made in this recent most tragic case are interference, one is putting oneself outside the ambit of normal diplomatic activity. In this case, it is warranted, for example, in relation to the Irish response as opposed to the communique issued from the Twelve, that Ireland should recall her Ambassador now for briefing. It is the minimum that should be required and it would also be an appropriate response for the Twelve. No other considerations should stop us taking such action. An appeal has been made and rejected. We have witnessed a summary execution without any recognised legal process, without right of appeal, relying only on the discretion of the President to exercise clemency, and that appeal for clemency was turned down. The death sentence has now been completed, tragically, the penalty being directed against somebody involved in his professional activity.
The procedures involved here would fill one with abhorrence. It is most important at this stage that, in the balance of diplomatic activity, the moral issues involved, the principles of international law involved and the norms of diplomacy involved, should take precedence over any other consideration such as that of trade. I strongly urge the Taoiseach to act in the manner I have suggested by recalling our Ambassador and by conveying his intention to act like this to the other members of the Twelve, so that we do not have a repeat of actions like this by any member of the world community.
I thank the Taoiseach for his response to my request and the request of other Deputies this morning to have statements in the House on this matter. The execution by the Iraqi authorities of the journalist Farzad Bazoft is certainly the most final interference with a person's human rights that any state can engage in. The Workers' Party, like other parties in this House are opposed to the death penalty irrespective of where or by whom the execution is carried out. What is particularly appalling about this execution is that it would appear to have been done in order to use this unfortunate man as a pawn in some bigger game. That kind of disregard for and abuse of human life appals all of us.
I share the sense of shock and outrage felt by many people at this execution. I do not know whether Mr. Bazoft was guilty as charged but there is strong evidence to suggest that he was only involved in legitimate activities as a journalist. Even if he had been guilty, the offence could not be considered to merit the appalling sentence to which he has been subjected. It is a great tragedy that the aftermath of the Iran-Iraq war which led to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands and which to all intents and purposes is now over, has taken another life.
We must remember that there are many other countries in the Middle East and elsewhere that engage in executions. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people who opposed the present regime in Iran were put to death in the most appalling practices. The fact that these executions may not be able to grab the attention of the world press in the way the execution of Mr. Bazoft has does not mean that we should forget about them. I call on Iran, Iraq and other countries that use the death penalty to abolish this barbarous act.
I welcome the stand taken by the European Community as outlined in the statement the Taoiseach has made. Perhaps our stance would be stronger, as suggested by Deputy Michael Higgins, and I hope that pressure will be brought to bear on the Iraqi authorities to stop these activities of executing their own citizens and the citizens of other states.