Iraq
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary democracy
- CONSTITUTION
- ratified on October 15, 2005 (currently under review by the Constitutional Committee and likely to be subject to a referendum in the future)
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on European civil law and Islamic law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- Council of Representatives
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- according to the constitution, the federal judiciary includes the High Judicial Council, the Federal Supreme Court, the Federal Court of Cassation, the Public Prosecutor's Department, the Judicial Oversight Commission, and other federal courts
RELIGIONS
97% Muslims; Christian and Hindu minorities
From the country
- AUGUST 20, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. ENVOY URGES IRAQ TO RECONSIDER DEATH PENALTY
Ashraf Qazi, special representative of UN secretary general Kofi Annan, urged Iraq to reconsider carrying out the first executions since the 2003 overthrow of former dictator Saddam Hussein.
- JULY 23, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
SADDAM TO BE EXECUTED SOON, PAPER
the government-financed al-Sabah daily said that toppled President Saddam Hussein was expected to be sentenced and executed within weeks.
- JULY 17, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
TRIBUNAL FORMALLY CHARGES SADDAM HUSSEIN
Iraq's special tribunal laid the first formal charges against Saddam Hussein for crimes committed during his 25-year rule and a date for his trial may be announced "within days", the tribunal said.
- JULY 16, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
KURDISH ISLAMIC SCHOLARS CALL FOR EXECUTION OF INSURGENTS
text of report by Meriwan Neqishbendi entitled "In their Friday sermon, Kurdistan Islamic scholars call for execution of terrorists", published by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper, Khabat...
- JULY 14, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. GOVERNMENT APPROVES FIRST DEATH SENTENCE
the Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari has approved the first death sentence handed down by a Iraqi tribunal and confirmed by the court of cassation - the country's highest court.
- JULY 5, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
UK. FOREIGN OFFICE UNABLE TO HAND OVER SADDAM EVIDENCE
it was reported that British Ministers were refusing to hand over evidence of Saddam Hussein's war crimes to Iraqi prosecutors - for fear of breaching his human rights.
- JUNE 5, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM TO FACE JUST 12 CHARGES
Iraq said it would bring only 12 charges of crimes against humanity against Saddam Hussein although there were more than 500 possible cases against the ousted dictator.
- JUNE 1, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. THREE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER OF TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
an Iraqi court sentenced three people to death over the murder of a top government official in May.
- MAY 31, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM TRIAL MAY START IN TWO MONTHS: TALABANI
Saddam Hussein could be on trial within two months, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said, but Giovanni Di Stefano, a London lawyer representing the former Iraqi dictator, warned several legal steps had to be taken first.
- MAY 30, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR DEATH PENALTY
it was reported that the Baghdad offices of Iraq's prime minister, Ibrahim Jaafari, had been flooded with telegrams supporting the government's decision to reinstate the death penalty for terrorists.
- MAY 29, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. DEATH PENALTY RETURNS TO IRAQ, WITH A VENGEANCE
according to a poll conducted by the US International Republican Institute published earlier in the month, 60 percent of Iraqis wanted the nation's constitution, currently being drawn up by lawmakers, to mention "extensive use of the death penalty".
- MAY 29, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. 60% OF IRAQIS FAVOUR INCLUSION OF DEATH PENALTY IN NEW CONSTITUTION, POLL
it was reported that according to a poll conducted by the US International Republican Institute published earlier in the month, 60% of Iraqis wanted the nation's constitution, currently being drawn up by lawmakers, to mention "extensive use of the death p