Responding to a new televised appeal to David Cameron made by Danny Fitzsimons, the British security contractor detained in Iraq and awaiting trial for murder, Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director Tim Hancock said:

“It’s obviously right that private military and security contractors are made fully responsible for any alleged wrongdoing when they’re working in places like Iraq, but we’re very concerned about this case.

“Iraq has an appalling record of unfair capital trials and there’s a definite danger of Danny Fitzsimons being sentenced to death after a shoddy judicial process.

“David Cameron should certainly seek assurances from the Iraqi authorities that Mr Fitzsimons will receive a fair trial and that the death penalty will be ruled out from the beginning.“

Iraq is one of the biggest users of the death penalty in the world. Last year Iraq executed at least 120 people, the third highest of any country in the world. Approximately 1,000 prisoners are currently on death row, many reportedly close to execution.