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
- OCTOBER 10, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM MAY BE EXECUTED BEFORE ALL CASES DECIDED
Saddam Hussein could be executed before the Iraqi Special Tribunal finishes charging him with all his alleged crimes, a source close to the tribunal said.
- OCTOBER 5, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. TALABANI MIGHT NOT 'PROHIBIT' HUSSEIN DEATH PENALTY
in an exclusive interview with Radio Free Iraq (RFI), Iraqi President Jalal Talabani spoke about the trial of Saddam Hussein.
- OCTOBER 4, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. PARLIAMENT PASSES ANTI-TERROR LAW
Iraqi lawmakers approved the death penalty for anyone financing or “provoking” terrorism.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT. GOVERNMENT DEMANDS DEATH PENALTY FOR SADDAM
Kuwait demanded the death penalty in its indictment against former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for crimes against the emirate, Justice Minister Ahmad Baqer said.
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM SHOULD BE EXECUTED 20 TIMES A DAY, TALABANI SAYS
ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein "confessed" to releasing orders for executions and a campaign against Kurds in which thousands of people are said to have been killed, President Jalal Talabani said.
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. ANTI-TERROR LAWS DEBATED THAT COULD INTRODUCE DEATH PENALTY FOR WIDE RANGE OF OFFENCES
Iraqi MPs debated sweeping anti-terror legislation that would make even crimes such as vandalism subject to the death penalty in a bid to quell the raging insurgency.
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM TO GO ON TRIAL OCTOBER 19
former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and seven of his henchmen would go on trial on October 19 over the massacre of 143 people more than two decades ago, government spokesman Laith Kubba.
- SEPTEMBER 3, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. UN REGRETS IRAQ'S USE OF DEATH PENALTY
reacting to the Iraqi Government's decision to execute by hanging three men accused of kidnapping, killing and rape, the United Nations Assistance Mission for the country (UNAMI) urged that future death penalty sentences be commuted.
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION. EU OPPOSES APPLICATION OF DEATH PENALTY IN IRAQ
the European Union adopted a declaration in which it expresses its regret that the death penalty had been applied once more in Iraq.
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. FIRST POST-SADDAM EXECUTIONS
Iraq executed three convicted murderers, the first time the government has carried out the death penalty since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, government spokesman Laith Kubba said.
- AUGUST 28, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. TALABANI WON'T SIGN SADDAM DEATH SENTENCE
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said in remarks that he would not sign a death sentence against his ousted predecessor Saddam Hussein even if it costs him his job.
- AUGUST 24, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. ANOTHER EXECUTION DUE AS NEW DEATH SENTENCE PASSED
Abed Saleh al-Issawi, an Iraqi man convicted of murder, was sentenced to death in Iraq's fourth scheduled execution since authorities reinstated capital punishment.
- AUGUST 21, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. GOVERNMENT DEFENDS DEATH PENALTY AHEAD OF EXECUTIONS
the Iraqi government defended its decision to reinstate the death penalty following a United Nations appeal for Baghdad to reconsider executing three convicted felons.
- AUGUST 20, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. ENVOY URGES IRAQ TO RECONSIDER DEATH PENALTY
Ashraf Qazi, special representative of UN secretary general Kofi Annan, urged Iraq to reconsider carrying out the first executions since the 2003 overthrow of former dictator Saddam Hussein.
- JULY 23, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
SADDAM TO BE EXECUTED SOON, PAPER
the government-financed al-Sabah daily said that toppled President Saddam Hussein was expected to be sentenced and executed within weeks.
- JULY 17, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
TRIBUNAL FORMALLY CHARGES SADDAM HUSSEIN
Iraq's special tribunal laid the first formal charges against Saddam Hussein for crimes committed during his 25-year rule and a date for his trial may be announced "within days", the tribunal said.
- JULY 16, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
KURDISH ISLAMIC SCHOLARS CALL FOR EXECUTION OF INSURGENTS
text of report by Meriwan Neqishbendi entitled "In their Friday sermon, Kurdistan Islamic scholars call for execution of terrorists", published by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper, Khabat...
- JULY 14, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. GOVERNMENT APPROVES FIRST DEATH SENTENCE
the Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari has approved the first death sentence handed down by a Iraqi tribunal and confirmed by the court of cassation - the country's highest court.
- JULY 5, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
UK. FOREIGN OFFICE UNABLE TO HAND OVER SADDAM EVIDENCE
it was reported that British Ministers were refusing to hand over evidence of Saddam Hussein's war crimes to Iraqi prosecutors - for fear of breaching his human rights.
- JUNE 5, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM TO FACE JUST 12 CHARGES
Iraq said it would bring only 12 charges of crimes against humanity against Saddam Hussein although there were more than 500 possible cases against the ousted dictator.
- JUNE 1, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. THREE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER OF TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
an Iraqi court sentenced three people to death over the murder of a top government official in May.
- MAY 31, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM TRIAL MAY START IN TWO MONTHS: TALABANI
Saddam Hussein could be on trial within two months, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said, but Giovanni Di Stefano, a London lawyer representing the former Iraqi dictator, warned several legal steps had to be taken first.
- MAY 30, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR DEATH PENALTY
it was reported that the Baghdad offices of Iraq's prime minister, Ibrahim Jaafari, had been flooded with telegrams supporting the government's decision to reinstate the death penalty for terrorists.
- MAY 29, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. DEATH PENALTY RETURNS TO IRAQ, WITH A VENGEANCE
according to a poll conducted by the US International Republican Institute published earlier in the month, 60 percent of Iraqis wanted the nation's constitution, currently being drawn up by lawmakers, to mention "extensive use of the death penalty".
- MAY 29, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. 60% OF IRAQIS FAVOUR INCLUSION OF DEATH PENALTY IN NEW CONSTITUTION, POLL
it was reported that according to a poll conducted by the US International Republican Institute published earlier in the month, 60% of Iraqis wanted the nation's constitution, currently being drawn up by lawmakers, to mention "extensive use of the death p
- MAY 25, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. FORMER ARMY CAPTAIN CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Tahassin Ali Mutar Janabi, an Iraqi army captain who served under ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, was sentenced to death.
- MAY 23, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. RESPONSE TO DEATH PENALTY BEING USED TO CONTROL VIOLENCE
it was reported that International human rights organisations had raised concern over the Iraqi prime ministers' recent announcement that the death penalty would be implemented as a way to control ongoing violence and insurgency in the country.
- MAY 22, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. FIRST DEATH SENTENCES IN THE COUNTRY FOR INSURGENTS
an Iraqi court sentenced three rebels to death for rape, kidnapping and murder, the first death sentences passed in connection with the ongoing insurgency.
- MAY 17, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. GOVERNMENT VOWS TO EXECUTE REBELS
mortars, bombs and drive-by gunmen killed at least 24 Iraqis as the new government vowed to punish the killers of at least 50 other people found slain in the last 48 hours, saying insurgents were trying to start open warfare between Shi'ites and Sunnis.
- MAY 2, 2005JordanDEATH PENALTY
JORDAN. THREE MEN EXECUTED FOR MURDER AND THEFT
Jordan executed a Palestinian, a Jordanian and an Iraqi convicted of killing a jeweler during a robbery, a security official said.