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
- 874
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 874 news items on Iraq, from 1999 to today.
In Iraq death sentences come largely from terrorism proceedings, often collective and concluded quickly. The method is hanging. Executions are carried out in groups, usually with no notice to the families and with announcements afterwards.
International bodies have repeatedly reported trials lacking minimum guarantees and sentences founded on confessions. The archive follows executions, sentences and requests for a stay.
Latest news
- MARCH 30, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQI GAYS SENTENCED TO DEATH FACE EXECUTION
more than 100 prisoners in Iraq are facing execution, many believed to have been convicted of the ‘crime’ of being gay, the UK-based Iraqi-LGBT group revealed.
MARCH 17, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: GOVERNMENT URGES EXECUTION OF SADDAM-ERA OFFICIALS
Iraq's government called on the presidential council to ratify the death sentences against former officials from Saddam Hussein's regime so that the punishments can be carried out.
- MARCH 12, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
IN IRAQ, 128 FACE EXECUTION IN BATCHES OF 20, REPORTS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International called for the immediate intervention of Iraq's Justice Minister to stop the execution of 128 prisoners on death row, amid reports that the authorities are planning to start executing in batches of up to 20 starting next week.
MARCH 11, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: TWO DEATH SENTENCED FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
Two of Saddam Hussein's half-brothers, former Interior Minister Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan and director of public security Sabawi Ibrahim, were sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. Hussein's former foreign minister, Tariq Aziz, was convicted and
- MARCH 9, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International announced that the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council...
Amnesty International announced that the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council...
- MARCH 2, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 'CHEMICAL ALI' CONDEMNED TO DEATH FOR THIRD TIME
An Iraqi court condemned Saddam Hussein's notorious henchman, "Chemical Ali" Hassan
MARCH 2, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYPANNELLA WANTS AZIZ'S ACCOMPLICES TO BE SPARED AS WELL
“We acknowledged that intervening and preventing the state assassination in Iraq of Tareq Aziz, an official
FEBRUARY 26, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ HANDS DEATH PENALTY TO 28 CULTISTS FOR ATTACKS
Twenty-eight members of a Shiite messianic cult responsible for brutal attacks on
- FEBRUARY 23, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
SUPREME CRIMINAL COURT SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH FOR MURDER
the Supreme Criminal Court in Diyala, Iraq, sentenced three people to death for murder.
- FEBRUARY 8, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
according to the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council’s website...
according to the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council’s website...
FEBRUARY 3, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYUK: GAY IRAQI COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY IF DEPORTED
A gay Iraqi man due for deportation tomorrow has been told by the UK Border Agency to conduct his
- JANUARY 1, 2009IraqDEATH 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 29, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: HANDS OFF CAIN- DON'T DEPORT THE ASHRAF IRANIAN REFUGEES
Hands Off Cain secretary Sergio D’Elia sent Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki an appeal saying he was
- DECEMBER 15, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
3 TO BE HANGED IN WASSIT
the Central Criminal Court issued death penalties against three people in Iraq's Wassit province, the director of the investigation committee in Wassit said.
- DECEMBER 13, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
the top UN envoy in Iraq urged the Shiite-led government to treat imprisoned Saddam Hussein-era figures
the top UN envoy in Iraq urged the Shiite-led government to treat imprisoned Saddam Hussein-era figures
- DECEMBER 4, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
MAN RECEIVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING EX-GOVERNOR OF MUTHANNA
the al-Muthanna Criminal Court in Iraq sentenced a man to death for assassinating former governor Mohammed Ali al-Hassani, a court official said.
- DECEMBER 2, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
4 CIVILIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH ON MURDER, ROBBERY CHARGES
the Criminal Court in Wassit, Iraq, handed down death sentences to four civilians after being found guilty of murder and robbery.
DECEMBER 2, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ'S 'CHEMICAL ALI' GETS SECOND DEATH SENTENCE
Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", received a second death sentence for the mass killing of
- NOVEMBER 22, 2008SudanDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 6 SENTENCED TO DEATH
the Federal Court of Cassation in Iraq upheld the death sentences imposed by the Criminal Court on six convicts, including two Arab nationals, for murder, abduction and terrorism-related crimes.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
CRIMINAL COURT SENTENCED FOUR TO DEATH
the official spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq said that the Central Criminal Court in al-Karkh sentenced four people to death for perpetrating different crimes.
- NOVEMBER 10, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
SALAH AL-DIN LOCAL COUNCIL MEMBER, SON SENTENCED TO DEATH
the Salah al-Din Central Court in Iraq sentenced a member of the provincial council and his son to death by hanging after they were found guilty of murder.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
MAN TO HANG OVER KARBALA CAR BOMB
the Karbala Criminal Court in Iraq has sentenced a man to death for involvement in a car bomb attack on May 7, 2006, that killed two people near the provincial building
- NOVEMBER 6, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
Riyadh Jasim Mohammed, Mohammed Sultan...
Riyadh Jasim Mohammed, Mohammed Sultan...
- OCTOBER 30, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) released a statement saying that they strongly condemn and denounce the death sentence
the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) released a statement saying that they strongly condemn and denounce the death sentence
OCTOBER 28, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQI MILITANT TO HANG FOR KILLING OF U.S. SOLDIERS
An Iraqi court sentenced a militant to death by hanging for the killing of three U.S. soldiers in 2006.
OCTOBER 11, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. PANNELLA- DON'T FORGET TAREK AZIZ
Radical leader Marco Pannella held a press conference with lawyer Mario Lana at Montecitorio regarding Tarek Aziz, Saddam Hussein's ex Foreign Affairs Minister. Aziz has been detained in Iraq since 2003 and is at risk of being sentenced to death. Lana met
OCTOBER 7, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. SECRET EXECUTIONS STILL CARRIED OUT
the Independent learned that secret executions are being carried out in Iraq in the prisons run by Nouri al-Maliki's government.
- OCTOBER 1, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
a man has been executed after he was found guilty...
a man has been executed after he was found guilty of committing murders, the Diwaniya’s anti-terror office director said, adding death sentences were handed down against 42 on the same charges.
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: MAN CONDEMNED TO DEATH CAPTURED IN WASSIT
policemen captured a man wanted by security authorities who was sentenced to death in absentia by a court in Kut city, Iraq, a security source in Wassit said.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. LAWMAKER COULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR VISITING ISRAEL
an Iraqi lawmaker who has made two trips to Israel and advocates peaceful relations with the Jewish state had his parliamentary immunity lifted last week and now could face a death sentence if Baghdad chooses to prosecute him.