A/HRC/7/3/Add.1 page 136 Para Country Date Type Mandate Allegations transmitted Government response The Government informed that the use of hanging as a punishment against a criminal who had repeatedly (even after the age of 18) committed crimes such as raping and organization of gang groups which inter alia have destroyed lives of eleven juveniles (boys and girls) and has left irreparable and everlasting psychological bitter impacts on their lives, is considered a major crime and no international document or commitment disapproves that. 111. Iraq 02/03/07 JAL TOR; VAW Ms. L. T. S., Mr. E. K. and Mr. G. S., three teenagers from Ain Sefni, Ninewah Governorate. L.T.S. was the granddaughter of the leader of the Yezidi ethnic group. Despite her parents wishes, she began a romantic relationship with E.K. who came from a lower social class than her family. L.T.S.’ family had already arranged her marriage with her cousin, and her relationship was seen as a stain on the honour of her family. On 10 August 2006, E.K. together with L.T.S. and his friend G.S. sought refuge at E.K.’s home. Several armed men led by L.T.S’ uncles, came to the house and burned it down. E.K.’s family had to flee the area. The three youth fled to Mosul to hide at the house of an acquaintance, who later handed them over to L.T.S.’ family at the Shalalat checkpoint in Mosul on 11 August 2006. They were taken to Baathree village, close to Ain Sefni. L.T.S’ father was already present in the village along with about fifty armed men affiliated with the her family. With a crowd of local villagers watching, the armed men broke E.K.’s hands and legs, gouged his eyes out, and shot him dead, riddling his body