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
- JULY 6, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
SWEDEN SAYS THREE CITIZENS GIVEN DEATH SENTENCES IN IRAQ OVER SHOOTING
Three Swedish citizens have been sentenced to death in Iraq over their involvement in a shooting and a fourth may also face the same punishment over a separate crime, the Swedish foreign ministry said on July 4, 2024.
JULY 3, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: ANOTHER SWEDISH CITIZEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Another Swedish citizen has been sentenced to death in Iraq by a court decision, Report News Agency informed on July 2, 2024 referring to the Dagens Nyheter newspaper citing the press service of the Swedish Foreign Ministry.
- JUNE 18, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
SWEDEN SUMMONS IRAQI DIPLOMAT TO PROTEST DEATH PENALTIES REPORTEDLY HANDED TO 2 SWEDES
Sweden's Foreign Ministry said officials summoned the Iraqi chargé d’affaires on June 14, 2024 to protest against death sentences handed down to Swedes in Iraq.
JUNE 17, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: IN RECENT WEEKS MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE EXECUTED
At least 63 people have been executed in Nasiriyah Central Prison in recent weeks alone. Human rights groups accuse the judiciary and executive authorities of abusing detainees and coercing them into making false confessions to justify the imposition of t
JUNE 11, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 7 DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Iraqi court has sentenced seven individuals to death for drug trafficking, including one foreign national. The Central Criminal Court’s decision, announced on June 9, 2024 by the Supreme Judicial Council
- JUNE 2, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HANGS EIGHT CONVICTED OF 'TERRORISM'
Iraq executed eight people convicted of "terrorism", a security source and health official said on May 31, 2024, the third such group put to death in the country in little over a month.
MAY 28, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: THREE ISIS FIGHTERS EXECUTED
The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council announced on May 28, 2024 the execution of three ISIS fighters.
MAY 20, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: NEARLY 100 DEATH SENTENCES, LIFE SENTENCES IN DRUG TRAFFICKING CRACKDOWN
Nearly 100 individuals – both Iraqi citizens and foreign nationals – were sentenced to death or life imprisonment on drug trafficking charges between 2023 and 2024, a spokesperson to the Interior Ministry said on May 15, 2024.
MAY 15, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Baghdad court on May 13, 2024 handed a death sentence for a drug dealer of foreign nationality accused of bringing narcotics into the country, state media reported.
- MAY 7, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ EXECUTES 11 PEOPLE CONVICTED OF TERRORISM
Iraqi authorities on May 6, 2024 executed by hanging 11 people convicted of “terrorism”, security and health sources told AFP, the second such group put to death since late April.
- APRIL 27, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HANGS 11 CONVICTED OF 'TERRORISM'
Iraqi authorities have executed at least 11 people convicted of "terrorism" this week, security and health sources said April 24, 2024, with rights group Amnesty International condemning an "alarming lack of transparency".
- APRIL 22, 2024IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: TWO ISIS-LINKED INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Central Criminal Court under the Iraqi Judiciary Council on April 22, 2024 handed a death sentence to two individuals linked to ISIS.