( CNN ) -- At least 1,000 prisoners are on death row in Iraq , which now has one of the highest rates of execution in the world , the human rights group Amnesty International says in a report being released Tuesday . Samar Saed Abdullah is one of many facing execution in Iraq . She 's accused of being an accessory to murders . The courts that sentence people to death do not meet international standards , the report charged , and Iraqi authorities `` provide very little information on executions , and some have been carried out secretly . '' It criticizes the Central Criminal Court of Iraq and the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal , which issue the majority of death sentences in the country . `` Defendants commonly complain that 'confessions ' were extracted from them under torture , '' the report alleges . `` Defendants also complain that they are not able to choose their own defense lawyers '' when they appear before the Central Criminal Court of Iraq . But Iraqi Justice Minister Dara Noor al-Deen Bahaa al-Deen , who said he says he is in favor of abolishing the death penalty , defended the Iraqi justice system , saying it is fair . `` As a judge , I assert that these measures take place with every crime that occurs . Of course , every defendant claims innocence and that the trial is unfair , but I am certain and reassured that -- especially now -- that any defendant , no matter what the sentence is , receives a fair trial and is given enough time for his testimony , that of the witnesses , '' al-Deen said . `` Afterward , the court makes its ruling . If it finds that the evidence is sufficient that he/she committed the crime , it hands down the sentence he/she deserves . '' Watch more about Amnesty 's report and a woman on Iraq 's death row » . Trials at the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal , which tries former Saddam Hussein-era officials charged with crimes against humanity and other major offenses , `` have been marred by political interference , '' Amnesty charges . The group says the trial of Hussein himself was subject to such interference , with the government dismissing a judge considered unlikely to support the death sentence against him . The former Iraqi leader was hanged in December 2006 . The report says that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani opposes the death penalty but has refused to block executions . And it quotes Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as `` repeatedly '' defending the death penalty . Amnesty International opposes it `` in all cases without exception , '' the group says in its report . The report lists a wide variety of crimes that can result in the death penalty , including murder , crimes compromising state security , attempting to overthrow the government by violent means and damaging public property . When asked by CNN about pleas not to execute women on death row , many of them mothers , al-Deen said , `` For us , there is no difference between men and women who commit crimes . A person who commits a crime should be punished . In general , this ca n't happen now or in a year or two , but I hope in the future , the death penalty would be abolished , because I am personally in favor of life sentences rather than the death penalty . '' Al-Deen said a request by him to waive the death penalty would have no effect . `` Even if I put in a request , this is a worthless request , because there is a law . As for abolishing the death sentence and replacing it with life imprisonment , that is an amendment of the law , and that has to happen through parliament . And parliament as the representative of the people decides if the punishment changes or does n't , '' he said . Responding to a reference to `` hasty rulings , '' he said , `` I do n't think the judiciary rushes to make a ruling , especially a death penalty for a convict . There are many severe sentences that were handed down , and when they reached the appeals court , they were returned back and changed . '' Amnesty International provided CNN with a copy of the report ahead of its publication . The report appears to be based on media reports and information from the Iraqi Interior Ministry and Ministry of Human Rights . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh and Arwa Damon contributed to this report .
Amnesty International says nation has one of world 's highest execution rates . The United States is the only country in which executions are carried out by lethal injection, and it does so on a regular basis. Iraqi justice minister says he favors abolishing death penalty , calls justice system fair . Justice minister says request by him to waive death penalty would have no effect .