Baghdad , Iraq ( CNN ) -- Tariq Aziz , one of the best-known faces of the Iraqi government for more than two decades , was sentenced to death Tuesday by the Iraqi High Tribunal for his role in eliminating religious parties during Saddam Hussein 's regime , court officials told CNN . His family was shocked by the verdict , his daughter told CNN . They had no idea he was going to be sentenced Tuesday , Zainab Aziz said from Amman , Jordan . `` Until last week they were hearing new witnesses in this case , '' she said , criticizing both the verdict itself and its timing . `` My father served his country for more than 22 years . He delivered himself to the U.S. Army [ after the fall of Hussein ] because he was n't afraid . He did n't do anything wrong . He served his country , '' she told CNN International 's `` iDesk '' program . `` He has been wronged , '' Zainab Aziz said . `` He feels that way and we feel that way because we know he did n't do anything wrong , he only served his country as a foreign minister and that did n't include anything of these bloody crimes he 's been tried for right now , '' she argued . `` I think it 's very unfair , '' she said . She said her father had little expectation that an appeal would help . `` I do n't think he has any hope of coming out '' of prison , she said , adding that he is `` old and frail . `` He does n't have any hope , but he is really happy that we are OK , that we are doing fine , '' she said . `` That is his only consolation . '' Badi Arif , an attorney who used to represent Aziz , said there is a political motive behind the death sentence . `` Mr. Aziz used to always tell me , 'They 'll find a way to kill me , and there is no way for me to escape this , ' '' Arif told CNN . `` But from a legal perspective , this sentence is wrong ; this is illegal and this is unexpected . '' In March 2009 , Aziz was sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the 1992 executions of 42 merchants . Aziz was deputy prime minister from 1981 to 2003 , also holding the post of foreign minister for part of that time . Abed Hameed Mahmoud and Sadoon Shaker , top former regime Baathists , also were sentenced to death for their involvement , court officials said . Amnesty International urged Iraq not to carry out the sentences , even as it acknowledged the brutality of Hussein 's regime . `` Saddam Hussein 's rule was synonymous with executions , torture and other gross human rights violations , and it is right that those who committed crimes are brought to justice , '' said Malcolm Smart , Amnesty International 's director for the Middle East and North Africa . `` However , it is vital that the death penalty , which is the ultimate denial of human rights , should never be used , whatever the gravity of the crime , '' he said in a written statement . The Vatican also opposed the death sentence , spokesman Federico Lombardi told CNN . `` This is not the most adequate way to promote reconciliation and reconstruction of justice and peace in a country that has suffered so much , '' he said . CNN 's Mohammed Tawfeeq , Fionnuala Sweeney , Mohammed Jamjoom and Hada Messia contributed to this report .
NEW : The Vatican opposes the death penalty as ` ` not the best way to promote reconciliation '' He did nothing wrong and the punishment was unfair , his daughter tells him . Aziz was Iraq 's deputy prime minister from 1982 to 1985 . Two other Baathists are also sentenced to death .