Prime Minister Abadi orders immediate execution of Daesh terrorists

Iraq's prime minister on Thursday ordered the immediate execution of all convicted Daesh terrorists on death row a day after remnants of the Takfiri terrorist group killed eight captives near capital Baghdad.

Heidar al-Abadi ordered "the immediate punishment of terrorists condemned to death whose sentences have passed the decisive stage," his office announced in a statement, referring to convicts whose appeals have been exhausted.

"Our security and military forces will take forceful revenge against these terrorist cells," the premier was quoted by media as telling senior military officials and ministers on Thursday. "We promise that we will kill or arrest those who committed this crime," he added.

According to Press TV, Iraq has reportedly arrested more than 300 people, including around 100 foreign women, and handed down life terms to hundreds of others for Daesh membership.

According to various media reports, most of the female convicts are Turkish or hail from ex-Soviet republics. Two men, one Russian and another Belgian, have also received death sentences for joining Daesh.

Iraqi security forces had discovered the bodies of the eight victims, who had been kidnapped by Daesh's remnants during the previous week on the highway linking Baghdad to the north on Wednesday. 

The corpses were decomposing and had been strapped with explosive vests, AFP quoted the Iraqi army as saying in a report on the development.

Daesh had released a video purportedly showing six of the abductees identifying themselves as either members of the police or the Shia-majority Hashd al-Sha'abi defense forces. It had said it would execute them unless the government released the Daeshi women.

ME