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
NOVEMBER 18, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: ISIS MEMBER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR POWER TOWER BOMBING
An Iraqi court on November 17, 2024 sentenced a man to death for his involvement in the bombing of electrical power towers in a rural area of Baghdad province.
OCTOBER 30, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: ISIS MEMBER SENTENCED TO DEATH AND LIFE IMPRISONMENT
The Saladin Criminal Court on October 28, 2024 issued three sentences against a "terrorist" affiliated with ISIS, including two death sentences and one life imprisonment.
OCTOBER 23, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: DEATH SENTENCE FOR TWO ISIS MEMBERS
The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council on October 23, 2024 reported that two ISIS members were sentenced to death.
- OCTOBER 21, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: TEN ISLAMIC STATE MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH AND LIFE IN PRISON
Iraqi judges have handed down death sentences and life sentences to ten members of the Islamic State (IS) arrested in Nineveh province, Agenzia Nova reported on October 18, 2024, citing the Interior Ministry.
OCTOBER 14, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION BLAMES PRESIDENT RASHID FOR MASS EXECUTIONS, CITING ‘HORRIFIC’ PRACTICES
The human rights organization "AFAD" on October 12, 2024 issued a statement, condemning mass executions by Iraqi authorities, including elderly inmates and some carried out in "horrific" ways, holding President Abdul Latif Rashid responsible.
- OCTOBER 8, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT SENTENCES THREE DRUG TRAFFICKERS TO DEATH
Iraq’s Central Criminal Court has sentenced three drug traffickers to death for their involvement in the trafficking of narcotic substances, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported on October 6, 2024.
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HANGS 21 MOSTLY ON ‘TERROR’ CHARGES – SOURCES
Iraqi authorities have hanged at least 21 people, including a woman, most of them convicted over “terrorism” charges, three security sources said on September 25, 2024.
- AUGUST 8, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: THREE PAKISTANI NATIONALS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM AND ROBBERY CHARGES
Three Pakistani youths have been sentenced to death by a local court in Iraq on charges of terrorism and robbery, propakistani.pk reported on August 5, 2024.
JULY 30, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING DHI QAR OFFICIAL
An Iraqi court in Baghdad sentenced a person to death on July 29, 2024 for killing a Dhi Qar counterterrorism official earlier this year.
JULY 23, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 10 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN NASIRIYAH'S CENTRAL PRISON FOR TERRORISM
Iraqi authorities on July 22, 2024 hanged 10 people convicted of "terrorism", security and health sources said.
- JULY 11, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQI COURT SENTENCES WIDOW OF FORMER ISIS LEADER AL-BAGHDADI TO DEATH
An Iraqi court on July 10, 2024 sentenced the widow of former longtime Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to death for enslaving kidnapped Yazidi women, state media reported.
- JULY 10, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: ISIS SUSPECT SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Iraqi court on July 9, 2024 handed a death sentence to a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) member in Salahaddin province, state media reported.