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
- NOVEMBER 8, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. 11 FACE IMMINENT EXECUTION
According to the Iraqi news agency Aswat al-Iraq, 11 people in Iraq are facing
- OCTOBER 25, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ SPEAKER JOINS FOES OF EXECUTION
the Iraqi parliament speaker joined opponents of executing a Saddam Hussein-era defence minister convicted of genocide against Kurds, saying that sending him to the gallows would set a dangerous precedent for the armed forces.
- OCTOBER 21, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
US AND IRAQ AGREE TO DROP EXECUTION OF SADDAM'S DEFENCE MINISTER
US AND IRAQ AGREE TO DROP EXECUTION OF SADDAM'S DEFENCE MINISTER
OCTOBER 17, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ DEBATES LEGAL ISSUES OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the planned execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid, or "Chemical Ali," was further delayed
- OCTOBER 15, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQI JUDGE: EXECUTION SET FOR CHEMICAL ALI
Ali Hassan Majeed, known as "Chemical Ali," is set to be executed on Tuesday October 16 for his role in the deaths of up to 180,000 Kurds, an Iraqi judge said. Munir Hadad, a senior judge of the Supreme Criminal Court, said the execution could take place
OCTOBER 4, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYthe Kurdistan Iraq Regional Government Justice Minister, Faruq Jamil
the Kurdistan Iraq Regional Government Justice Minister, Faruq Jamil
- OCTOBER 3, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
'CHEMICAL' ALI'S EXECUTION DELAYED BY IRAQ
Iraq has stayed announced it will miss the legal deadline for executing Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali," while the government seeks a stay for the holy month of Ramadan.
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
ANFAL DEATH SENTENCES DO NOT REQUIRE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL: IRAQI JUDGE
An Iraqi judge and spokesman for the Iraqi High Tribunal said at a Baghdad
SEPTEMBER 7, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. TALABANI OPPOSES EXECUTION OF SADDAM AIDE
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he would not sign the execution order of
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: CHEMICAL ALI EXECUTION "MUST HAVE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE", SAYS COUNCIL
Iraq's National Legal Consultation Council said that it was not legal to execute Saddam Hussein's close aides, including the dictator's cousin so-called 'Chemical Ali,' without a presidential decree.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYUN FAULTS IRAQ FOR CONTINUED EXECUTIONS
a new United Nations report on human rights criticises the
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR 'CHEMICAL ALI'
Iraq's top court said it has confirmed the death sentence on "Chemical Ali" and two other cohorts of
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
10 IRAQI CULT MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
ten members of an Iraqi doomsday cult were sentenced to death for their roles in a January rebellion against Iraqi and US troops that left hundreds dead, police said.
- AUGUST 22, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
Eleven men were executed in Iraq, for murder, rape and terrorism.
Eleven men were executed in Iraq, for murder, rape and terrorism.
- AUGUST 8, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQI COURT SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH FOR TERRORIST ACTS
three Iraqi snipers were convicted and sentenced to death last week after confessing to the deaths of at least two coalition soldiers and the shootings of nine others according to Army Col. Mark S. Martins, staff judge advocate with Multinational Force Ir
- JULY 3, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. MAN EXECUTED FOR ROLE IN 2003 IMAM ALI BLAST
Iraqi Justice Ministry spokesman Busho Ibrahim said Oras Muhammad Abdul-Aziz
- JULY 2, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
4 SENTENCED TO DEATH BY IRAQI COURT
the Central Criminal Court of Iraq, a forum in which US troops
- JUNE 24, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. THREE EX OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO HANG
Saddam Hussein's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as ``Chemical Ali,'' and two other regime
- MAY 29, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
four persons convicted of implementing a bomb attack...
four persons convicted of implementing a bomb attack were executed in the city of Arbil, Iraq, a source in the Kurdistan region’s interior ministry said.
- MAY 16, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM
three Iraqis - Ahmad Hassan Ali, 25, Jasim Muhammad Hilal, 32, and Ali Asama'Ail Abrahim...
- MAY 15, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Iraq's main criminal court sentenced three Iraqi teenagers to hang after they were convicted of murdering a fellow detainee at Camp Cropper, a US military prison camp just outside Baghdad that houses thousands of detainees.
MAY 14, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA. IRAQI BEHEADED FOR SMUGGLING HASHISH
an Iraqi national was beheaded by the sword after being convicted of smuggling hashish into the ultra-conservative kingdom, the interior ministry said.
- MAY 3, 2007Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
an Iraqi penal tribunal sentenced four Iraqis...
an Iraqi penal tribunal sentenced four Iraqis...
- APRIL 24, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. ARMY DESERTERS TO BE EXECUTED
Iraqi soldiers who desert their units now face execution, according to a decree by the country’s Presidential Council.
- APRIL 23, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
THREE IRAQIS BEHEADED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Saudi Arabia beheaded three Iraqis nationals for drug smuggling.
- APRIL 20, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN IRAQ FOR KIDNAPPING
a court in Baghdad sentenced three Iraqis to death, according to a statement by the Iraqi Supreme Court.
- APRIL 20, 2007LibyaDEATH PENALTY
LIBYAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN IRAQ
a Libyan national was sentenced to death in Iraq for joining ‘an armed group’, according to a statement by the Iraqi Supreme Court.
- APRIL 20, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY CONDEMNS IRAQ EXECUTIONS
Iraq is now the world's fourth highest user of the death penalty, Amnesty International reported.
- APRIL 6, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. US CITIZEN TO FACE DEATH PENALTY
a federal appeals court refused to intervene in the case of a U.S. citizen facing a death
APRIL 3, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYthe Parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous
the Parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous