Sinn Féin has expressed "serious concern surrounding the cases of Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ who were sentenced to death on 11 February 2020 by the Second Hall of the Erbil Criminal Court in the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan".

The statement reads: "Sinn Féin wishes to express serious concern surrounding the cases of Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ who were sentenced to death on 11 February 2020 by the Second Hall of the Erbil Criminal Court in the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The two men have consistently denied any responsibility for the killing of the Turkish vice consul Osman Köse in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan on 17 July 2019 in Erbil. They have maintained that they were subject to torture during their interrogation, as well as continuous violence during their imprisonment where they are held in solitary confinement. Such accusations require the utmost attention and independent investigation."

Sinn Féin added: "As Irish Republicans, we have witnessed and experienced the horrific impact miscarriages of justice can have. The international community must ensure there are no violations of due process and justice, upholding the rights of individuals.

We would echo the European Union's call for, at the very least, a moratorium on the death penalty by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Ultimately, we would also advocate for the complete annulment of the death penalty."