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
- APRIL 18, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. PRESIDENT SPARKS DEBATE OVER SADDAM DEATH PENALTY
it was reported that an announcement by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that he would not sign Saddam Hussein's death warrant if he received the death penalty for war crimes sparked heated debate in the country.
- APRIL 10, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. NEW PRESIDENT OPPOSED TO SADDAM DEATH SENTENCE
Iraq's new president, Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani, hinted in an interview that he opposed the idea of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein being sentenced to death.
- MARCH 31, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: SADDAM TO GET DEATH SENTENCE, JUDGE
an Iraqi judge on the court that will try Saddam Hussein said the former Iraqi dictator committed many crimes and likely will be sentenced to death.
- MARCH 4, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. GOVERNMENT DOES ABOUT TURN ON ISSUE OF INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
only a week since announcing the intention of adhering to the Statute of Rome and thus also to the International Court of Justice, the provisional government of Iraq announced the withdrawal of such an initiative with a new decree, stated the Italian grou
- FEBRUARY 21, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. TOWARDS ADHESION TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
(Sources: No Peace Without Justice, 21/02/05;)
- FEBRUARY 9, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
Iraqi officials said that the legal reckoning for Saddam Hussein...
Iraqi officials said that the legal reckoning for Saddam Hussein...
- JANUARY 1, 2005Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
an Iraqi and a Pakistani were executed in Saudi Arabia
an Iraqi and a Pakistani were executed in Saudi Arabia
- DECEMBER 22, 2004Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Iraqi national Qaed bin Kamal al-Ziyadi was executed
Iraqi national Qaed bin Kamal al-Ziyadi was executed
- DECEMBER 19, 2004Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia executed two Iraqis
Saudi Arabia executed two Iraqis
- DECEMBER 14, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Iraq is suffering from a severe lack of qualified judges...
Iraq is suffering from a severe lack of qualified judges...
- DECEMBER 10, 2004Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
two Iraqis who robbed and murdered a man they lured into their tent were executed
two Iraqis who robbed and murdered a man they lured into their tent were executed
- DECEMBER 5, 2004Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Dakhel bin Fahd bin Mohammad al-Ghlidawi, an Iraqi national, was executed
Dakhel bin Fahd bin Mohammad al-Ghlidawi, an Iraqi national, was executed
- DECEMBER 2, 2004JordanDEATH PENALTY
Jordan’s Criminal Court sentenced an Iraqi national, Nathem I., to death
Jordan’s Criminal Court sentenced an Iraqi national, Nathem I., to death
- NOVEMBER 21, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
The interim Iraqi government of Iyad Allawi threatened...
The interim Iraqi government of Iyad Allawi threatened to charge anti-US occupation imams with high treason, which carried capital punishment
- NOVEMBER 21, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, one of Iraq's leading Shiite Muslim...
Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, one of Iraq's leading Shiite Muslim politicians, said he was convinced Saddam Hussein would be executed if an Iraqi court heard his case
- OCTOBER 23, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Some 150 to 160 Arab fighters have appeared in Iraqi...
Some 150 to 160 Arab fighters have appeared in Iraqi courts charged with carrying out terrorist attacks and could face the death penalty if convicted, the justice minister said
- OCTOBER 22, 2004ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. UN DECLINES TO TRAIN IRAQIS FOR SADDAM TRIAL
the United Nations has rejected a request from Iraqi leaders to train some 30 judges and prosecutors who would be trying former President Saddam Hussein, in part because Baghdad has the death penalty, a UN spokesman said.
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
An official Justice Ministry source said that based...
An official Justice Ministry source said that based on the provisions of Article 26 of the interim Iraqi State Administration Law, the Council of Ministers had decided to reinstate the death penalty and to start applying it at the courts of the Justice Mi
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
The trial and possible execution of Saddam Hussein...
The trial and possible execution of Saddam Hussein would discourage the die-hard remnants of the old Ba'athist regime and "show Iraq and those beyond Iraq that tyranny will not win", Iyad Allawi, the country's interim Prime Minister, said
- AUGUST 17, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Denmark has resumed handing over Iraqi detainees to...
Denmark has resumed handing over Iraqi detainees to British forces, after receiving guarantees that no prisoners will face the death penalty
- AUGUST 11, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Tariq Aziz, the jailed former deputy prime minister...
Tariq Aziz, the jailed former deputy prime minister...
- AUGUST 11, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
prisoners taken by British forces were liable to be executed by the Iraqi authorities
prisoners taken by British forces were liable to be executed by the Iraqi authorities
- AUGUST 10, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Denmark says its forces in Iraq will no longer hand...
Denmark says its forces in Iraq will no longer hand over prisoners to Iraqi authorities after the interim government reinstated the death penalty
- AUGUST 10, 2004DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Danish Defense Minister Soeren Gade said that...
Danish Defense Minister Soeren Gade said that...
- AUGUST 9, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
The UK Foreign Office has said Salem Chalabi, the head...
The UK Foreign Office has said Salem Chalabi, the head of the Iraqi tribunal trying Saddam Hussein, will not be extradited on murder charges while he is in London
- AUGUST 8, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
The interim Iraqi government reinstated the death penalty...
The interim Iraqi government reinstated the death penalty for murderers, drug traffickers and those endangering national security
- AUGUST 4, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Iraqi Defence Minister Hazem al-Shaalan said that former...
Iraqi Defence Minister Hazem al-Shaalan said that former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should be sentenced to death for his crimes
- JULY 26, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
In Iraq's southern city of Basra, about 50 armed members...
In Iraq's southern city of Basra, about 50 armed members of firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's personal militia snatched about 20 people on July 26 during raids against people selling and drinking alcohol, police said
- JULY 25, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
A Kuwaiti court sentenced Mohammad al-Juwaied, a Kuwaiti...
A Kuwaiti court sentenced Mohammad al-Juwaied, a Kuwaiti national, to death for spying for the former Iraqi regime led by Saddam Hussein, whose forces invaded and occupied the Gulf Arab state during the 1990-91 Gulf Crisis
- JULY 18, 2004IraqDEATH PENALTY
Iraq's interim government denied a report that Iyad...
Iraq's interim government denied a report that Iyad Allawi, the prime minister, had personally executed six suspected insurgents in May, just days before America handed over power