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 7, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. PANNELLA READY FOR APPOINTMENT TO SAVE SADDAM FROM EXECUTION
Hands Off Cain President Marco Pannella reaffirmed his availability to be appointed to Iraq in order to save Saddam Hussein from the death penalty, underlining that he would have to be given the task by the Italian government.
NOVEMBER 7, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. NOBELLIST APPEALS TO IRAQI GOVERNMENT NOT TO CARRY OUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN
Nobel Peace Laureate, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, has appealed to the Iraqi Government not to carry out the death sentences passed on former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, as well as his former Vice President, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, and former Intell
- NOVEMBER 6, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
COUNCIL OF EUROPE OPPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR HUSSEIN
the Council of Europe warned that it's futile and wrong to execute the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, as it could send a message that the new Iraq is to be built on vengeance
- NOVEMBER 6, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA WELCOMES SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DEATH SENTENCE
Australia welcomed a death sentence meted out to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, saying that it is a sign of democratic hope for Iraq.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQI PRESIDENT SAYS HE SIGNED PETITION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said that while he had once signed an international petition against the death penalty, his signature was not needed to carry out the death sentence against Saddam Hussein.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
Italy urged Iraqi authorities not to execute Saddam Hussein...
Italy urged Iraqi authorities not to execute Saddam Hussein, saying it would be a mistake both ethically and politically.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2006Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CONDEMNS SADDAM SENTENCING
a senior Vatican official lamented the death penalty imposed on former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on November 5, suggesting it marked a vengeful "eye for an eye" mentality still gripping turmoil-torn Iraq.
NOVEMBER 6, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYSADDAM. UN JUDICIAL EXPERT SLAMS SADDAM TRIAL, URGES INTERNATIONAL COURT
a U.N. rights expert urged Iraqi authorities not to carry out Saddam Hussein's death sentence and called for an international tribunal to either retry or handle the appeals process for Iraq's former dictator.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION. EU PRESIDENT FINLAND SAYS SADDAM SHOULD NOT HANG
the European Union urged Iraq not to carry out the death sentence passed on Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein after his conviction for crimes against humanity.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
INDIA REACTS GUARDEDLY TO SADDAM'S HANGING
India reacted guardedly to the hanging of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, saying the death sentence required the "credible due process of law."
- NOVEMBER 5, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. DEFENCE SAYS SADDAM VERDICT A MOCKERY OF JUSTICE
Saddam Hussein's defence team said his conviction for crimes against humanity and the death sentence passed on him were illegal and political.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SAYS EXECUTION THE “VERY LEAST” SADDAM DESERVES
Iran said a death sentence was the “very least” punishment that should be handed down to its one-time foe former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2006GermanyDEATH PENALTY
GERMANY. MERKEL PRAISES SADDAM JUDGEMENT, UNDERLINES EU AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the court judgement of Saddam Hussein...
NOVEMBER 5, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. SADDAM AND TWO CO-DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO HANG
Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against humanity.
NOVEMBER 5, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYSADDAM HUSSEIN. DISGRACE OF THIS DEATH PENALTY FALLS ON EUROPE, HOC
following the death sentence handed down to Saddam Hussein, Sergio D’Elia, Secretary Gen. of Hands Off Cain, and Elisabetta Zamparutti, Treasurer, declared: “A court formed by Shiites and Kurds condemned to death the Sunni Saddam.
- OCTOBER 19, 2006TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. FIVE PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH
the Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted twenty seven individuals between October 5-12 for crimes including kidnapping, possession of illegal weapons, using or taking advantage of someone else’s legal documents, heading, leading, joining armed groups,
OCTOBER 18, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. PM HOPES FOR SADDAM DEATH SENTENCE SOON
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he hoped legal proceedings against former president Saddam Hussein would be short and that he would be found guilty and sentenced to death soon.
- OCTOBER 16, 2006United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE. MAN ESCAPES DEATH PENALTY, TO PAY BLOOD MONEY
it was reported that an Iraqi man who murdered a Saudi for attempting to sexually abuse his wife escaped death penalty when the father of the victim accepted diya (blood money) as per Sharia Law.
OCTOBER 15, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT CONVICTS 65 INSURGENTS
Iraq's Central Criminal Court has sentenced an al-Qaida member to death and convicted 64 others on charges of belonging to armed groups and other crimes, the US military command said.
- OCTOBER 12, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. U.S. CITIZEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
a US citizen who allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists near Baghdad in 2005 was sentenced to death in an Iraqi court, prompting his lawyers to ask a federal judge in Washington to block the US military from transferring him t
OCTOBER 6, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. HANGING SADDAM WOULD CAUSE BLOODBATH, FORMER US ATTORNEY GENERAL
former US attorney general Ramsey Clark, a member of Saddam Hussein's defence team, predicted that a bloodbath would follow should an Iraqi court trying the former president have him executed.
- OCTOBER 3, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. HUSSEIN JUDGES DELAY VERDICT
judges postponed their verdict in Saddam Hussein's trial. The verdict had been expected on October 16 but was delayed until at least the end of the month while judges took extra time to review the evidence and make sure their case was airtight.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. UN ENVOY URGES GOVERNMENT TO COMMUTE SENTENCES OF PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW
the United Nations urged Iraq to commute all sentences of capital punishment after the northern Kurdistan region executed 10 people earlier in the week.
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
JORDAN. FAILED FEMALE BOMBER AND SIX OTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
a Jordanian military court sentenced a failed female suicide bomber and six others to death for planning attacks which killed 60 people in Amman in 2005.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. 11 PEOPLE EXECUTED FOR TERRORISM
Iraq's northern Kurdistan administration executed 11 people, officially described as terrorists, sentenced to death for taking part in beheadings and bombings.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. TWO IRAQI’S SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR FOILED ATTACKS ON S. KOREAN MILITARY
two Iraqi’s who attempted to bomb the South Korean military facilities in Iraq were sentenced to death.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. KURDISTAN PARLIAMENT VOTES FOR USING DEATH PENALTY
in the 4th ordinary session of the Kurdistan parliament in Iraq, chaired by the parliament Deputy Speaker, the Kurdistan parliament unanimously voted for the resumption of capital punishment in the Kurdistan Region.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. 27 ‘TERRORISTS’ EXECUTED IN BAGHDAD
Iraq executed 27 "terrorists" convicted by Iraqi courts of killings and rapes in several provinces. The 27 were executed in Baghdad, the government's media office said in a brief statement. It did not provide any further details.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2006Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA. IRAQI EXECUTED FOR DRUG DEALING
Saudi Arabia executed Muhammad Bin-Shalal Bin-Farhud al-Shammari, an Iraqi man convicted of trafficking heroin in the strict Muslim kingdom.
JULY 31, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. HANGING WILL BE SADDAM'S DEATH PENALTY IF CONVICTED – PROSECUTOR
if the death penalty against Hussein was executed, it would be hanging until death and not by a shooting squad, said Jaafar Al-Mosawi, chief prosecutor of the trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. "It is a civil court not a military one," said