Iraq
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 1
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · In mid-January, Col
- News items in the archive
- 866
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Iraq is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 1 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 866 news items on Iraq, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
MAY 4, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: GOVERNMENT TO DISBAND TRIBUNAL SET UP FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN TRIAL
a special court set up to prosecute former leader Saddam Hussein and his associates
- APRIL 22, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: TARIQ AZIZ APPEAL ON DEATH RULING OUT IN 2 WEEKS
the outcome of Tariq Aziz's death penalty appeal will be issued in Iraq in two weeks...
APRIL 21, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: DEATH PENALTY FOR THREE SADDAM-ERA SPIES
Iraq's High Criminal Court sentenced to death three Saddam Hussein-era spies convicted of assassinating the father of a sitting Iraqi lawmaker in Beirut in April 1994.
MARCH 16, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: AL-QAIDA LEADER SENTENCED TO DEATH
the Iraqi Supreme Criminal Court sentenced al-Qaida leader Munaf al-Rawi and five
- JANUARY 17, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTY
PROTEST HELD IN IRAQ'S ARBIL AGAINST EXECUTION OF IRANIAN KURDISH ACTIVIST
over "2,000" people have staged a demonstration outside the Iranian consulate in Arbil, Iraq, in protest against the execution of a Kurdish activist Hoseyn Khezri in Iranian Orumiyah prison on 15 January.
- JANUARY 1, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
- DECEMBER 16, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HAS EXECUTED 257 SINCE 2005: MINISTER
Iraq has executed 257 people, including six women, since 2005, deputy justice minister Busho
DECEMBER 13, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 835 AWAIT EXECUTION IN PRISONS
Iraq has 835 people waiting to be executed, Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani said, just
- DECEMBER 2, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ PARADES 39 AL-QAEDA MEMBERS AMID EXECUTION CALLS
Iraqi security forces have paraded 39 suspected al-Qaeda members accused of running terrorist operations
NOVEMBER 29, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: DEATH SENTENCE FOR THREE SADDAM AIDES
Three aides to Saddam Hussein were sentenced to death by an Iraqi court for
NOVEMBER 17, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: PRESIDENT TALABANI REFUSES TO SIGN AZIZ DEATH ORDER
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he would never sign former deputy premier Tareq Aziz's
- NOVEMBER 7, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: DE GREGORIO- THERE IS A CHANCE TO SAVE TAREQ AZIZ
senator Sergio De Gregorio, President of the Italian Delegation for the NATO Parliamentary
- NOVEMBER 6, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: PRESIDENT TALABANI AGAINST HANGING TAREQ AZIZ
Iraqi president Jalal Talabani spoke out against the fact that his country uses the death
OCTOBER 31, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: AZIZ- FRATTINI READY TO GO TO BAGHDAD WITH PANNELLA
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is ready to go with Marco Pannella to Baghdad to 'ask the Iraqi authorities to intervene and prevent the death penalty against Tareq Aziz and those condemned with him by the Iraqi High Court last week.'
- OCTOBER 27, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
UN URGES IRAQ NOT TO EXECUTE HUSSEIN SADDAM AIDE AZIZ
the United Nations urged Iraq to spare the life of Tareq Aziz...
OCTOBER 26, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: TAREQ AZIZ SENTENCED TO DEATH
Iraq's high tribunal passed a death sentence on Tareq Aziz, once the international face of dictator Saddam Hussein's regime, over the persecution of Islamic parties, the court said.
- AUGUST 3, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: FORMER SADDAM OFFICIAL SENTENCED TO DEATH
senior Baath Party official Mezban Khadar Hadi was sentenced to death by the Iraqi High Criminal Court for the draining of the country's marshlands in the 1990s, a court statement said.
- JULY 27, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ EXECUTED 230 PEOPLE FROM 2005-2009
Iraq executed 230 people from 2005 to 2009 and 1,254 were sentenced to
- JULY 14, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: US HANDS OVER TARIQ AZIZ, OTHER DETAINEES
the U.S. this week handed over nearly 30 former members of Saddam Hussein's inner circle, including
- MAY 30, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: DEATH PENALTY FOR STEALING OF ELECTRICITY
Iraqi Council of Ministers extended the application of article 197...
- MAY 23, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
AL-QAIDA MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE IN IRAQ FOR KILLING RUSSIAN ENVOYS
the Karkh criminal court in west Baghdad, Iraq, sentenced an unidentified al-Qaida militant to death for the kidnapping and murder of five Russian diplomats in June 2006...
- MAY 18, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 62 AL QAEDA MEN GET DEATH SENTENCE
an Iraqi court awarded death sentence to 62 people linked to
- MARCH 16, 2010Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
the Saudi Arabian government stayed the execution of Iraqi man Mohammad Abdul Amir
the Saudi Arabian government stayed the execution of Iraqi man Mohammad Abdul Amir
FEBRUARY 16, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: EUROPEAN ALLIES CALL FOR HALT TO DEATH PENALTY
Britain, France and Italy called on Iraq to halt use of the death penalty, expressing concern at a growth in the number of executions in the past two years.
- JANUARY 25, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
EX-IRAQI LAWMAKER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLINGS
Sunni Arab politician Mohammed al-Daini was sentenced to death in Iraq for ordering car bombings, mortal attacks and mass murders, including the 2007 parliament bombing.
JANUARY 25, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 'CHEMICAL ALI' EXECUTED
Ali Hassan al-Majid, the cousin of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, was executed in Iraq for crimes against humanity, a government spokesman said.
- JANUARY 17, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
CHEMICAL ALI RECEIVES DEATH PENALTY
Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin "Chemical Ali" was convicted and sentenced to death
- JANUARY 14, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: DEATH SENTENCE FOR 11 BAGHDAD BOMBERS
An Iraqi court sentenced to death 11 men, including Al-Qaeda militants, over devastating truck bombs in
- JANUARY 5, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 77 PEOPLE EXECUTED LAST YEAR
Iraq executed 77 people last year, all of whom were convicted of terrorism-related offences, the country's supreme court said.
- JANUARY 1, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.