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
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ SENDS 8 SAUDIS HOME
eight Saudi Arabian nationals jailed in Iraq were sent home ahead of a new extradition treaty between the two countries.
- AUGUST 30, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
KARBALA INCIDENTS’ MASTERMIND SENTENCED TO DEATH
in Iraq, Karbala’s Court of Appeal sentenced an armed group leader to death for masterminding a bloody clash during a Shiite pilgrimage where hundreds were killed and injured.
AUGUST 25, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYL'AQUILA. ELA GANDHI SIGNS MARCO PANNELLA'S ‘MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, EVEN FOR TAREQ AZIZ’ APPEAL
Ela Gandhi signed the appeal for Marco Pannella's non violent initiative for the 'Moratorium on capital punishment, even for Tareq Aziz'.
AUGUST 20, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. FORMER MINISTER SENTENCED TO DEATH
a former Iraqi cabinet minister was sentenced to death for ordering
- AUGUST 10, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: WASSIT COURT UPHOLDS 8 DEATH SENTENCES
the public body of the Court of Cassation in Iraq upheld a ruling made by the Central Criminal Court, which sentenced eight people to death for kidnapping and murdering civilians, an anonymous source from Wassit's Federal Court of Appeal said.
JULY 24, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYPANNELLA: HUNGER STRIKE TO SAVE TAREQ AZIZ
at the presentation of the Hands Off Cain 2008 Report on the Death Penalty Worldwide, Marco Pannella used the occasion to promote his “Moratorium on the death penalty also for Tareq Aziz” campaign. Mr Pannella has been on a hunger strike since midnight, J
JULY 14, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. MECACCI AND PERDUCA: SEND A FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSION DELEGATION TO VISIT TAREQ AZIZ
Radical-PD Parliamentarians Matteo Mecacci and Marco Perduca wrote a letter to the Presidents of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chamber and the Senate asking them to start all the practical necessities for sending a delegation to Iraq “with the utm
JULY 6, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. PANNELLA, HUNGER STRIKE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY FOR TAREQ AZIZ
as of tonight, Marco Pannella is on a hunger strike against the likely death sentence and execution of Tareq Aziz, ex vice prime minister of the deposed Iraqi regime.
- JULY 3, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
KARBALA COURT SENTENCES THREE SUSPECTS TO DEATH
Rahman Mashawi, the spokesman for Karbala security operations...
- JULY 1, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
a conference was held in Erbil by the Kurdistan Regional Government...
a conference was held in Erbil by the Kurdistan Regional Government...
- JUNE 18, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
FEDERAL COURT OF CESSATION RATIFIES 18 DEATH SENTENCES
the Federal Court of Cassation’s public authority ratified the execution of 18 death row convicts in several Iraqi provinces...
JUNE 4, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. UN EXPERT CONDEMNS DEATH PENALTY
the United Nations expert on the independence of judges and lawyers condemned the
MAY 29, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. KURDISTAN REGION'S JUSTICE MINISTER 'WANTS TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY'
the autonomous northern Iraqi region of Kurdistan's justice minister, Faruq Jamil, told campaign
- MAY 19, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. CHURCH OPPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR ARCHBISHOP'S KILLER
the Archbishop of Kirkuk, Louis Sako, said that the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq
MAY 18, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. DEATH PENALTY FOR ARCHBISHOP'S KILLING
a leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq was sentenced to death for the killing of
- APRIL 30, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
TIKRIT COURT SENTENCES AL-QAEDA-LINKED GROUP LEADER TO DEATH
the Criminal Court in Tikrit, Iraq, sentenced an al-Qaeda-linked group member to death, a police source said.
APRIL 29, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. SENTENCING JUDGE CONDEMNS HUSSEIN'S EXECUTION
the Iraqi judge who sentenced Saddam Hussein to death condemned the manner in which
APRIL 13, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. 28 CRIMINALS AND MILITANTS EXECUTED IN BASRA
Iraqi's interior ministry executed 28 criminals and militant cult members in the
FEBRUARY 29, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. 'CHEMICAL ALI' EXECUTION APPROVED
the execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin and henchman "Chemical Ali" has
- FEBRUARY 29, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ APPEALS COURT OVERTURNS US CITIZEN'S DEATH SENTENCE
an Iraqi appeals court overturned the conviction and death sentence
- FEBRUARY 17, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
COURT CONDEMNS 170 DEFENDANTS
the Baghdad Central Criminal Court in Iraq condemned...
- FEBRUARY 8, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
seven people under sentence of death, in Iraq, had their sentences upheld by the Cassation Court...
seven people under sentence of death, in Iraq, had their sentences upheld by the Cassation Court...
FEBRUARY 4, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA. THREE FOREIGNERS BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded an Indian, an Iraqi and a Pakistani after they were
- JANUARY 16, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ SEEKS END TO "CHEMICAL ALI" EXECUTION IMPASSE
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is trying to end an impasse that has delayed the execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin and two other men convicted of genocide, a government spokesman said.
- JANUARY 1, 2008IraqDEATH 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 18, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
Iraq voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Iraq voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
DECEMBER 4, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. AL-MALIKI WANTS 'CHEMICAL ALI,' OTHERS EXECUTED
Iraq's prime minister wants the American military to hand over "Chemical Ali" and two other convicted
- NOVEMBER 19, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. END TO DEATH PENALTY 'NOT FAVOURABLE', GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
the moratorium on the death penalty adopted last week by the United Nations
- NOVEMBER 15, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIAN DUMA: SADDAM'S DEATH WON'T SOLVE IRAQ'S PROBLEMS
the lower house of Russian parliament warned the execution of Saddam Hussein could lead to a further escalation of violence in Iraq.
- NOVEMBER 13, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: US FORCES WILL NOT ALLOW IRAQ EXECUTIONS AMID CONTROVERSY: OFFICIAL
the United States will refuse to hand over to Iraqi authorities for execution three former top officials from the Saddam Hussein regime as long as the "legal controversy" over their sentencing remains, reports said.