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
- DECEMBER 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On december: the Iraqi Communist Party accused President...
On december: the Iraqi Communist Party accused President Saddam Hussein's government of executing 54 political prisoners late in 1999
- NOVEMBER 29, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On November 29, according to informed Iraqi sources...
On November 29, according to informed Iraqi sources arriving in the Jordanian capital of Amman, Col
- NOVEMBER 19, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On November 19, the Iraqi Communist Party reported...
On November 19, the Iraqi Communist Party reported that Sharif Dafar Udah (70 years) was executed, along with his 7 sons: Husayn (44 years), Abd al-Rida (40 years), Muhammad (38 years), Hamid (36 years), Hamed (33 years), Qasim (28 years) and Wathiq (26 y
- NOVEMBER 15, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On November 15, in a draft on the human rights situation...
On November 15, in a draft on the human rights situation in Iraq (document A/C
- OCTOBER 12, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On October 12, 19 political dissidents and 104 inmates...
On October 12, 19 political dissidents and 104 inmates were executed in Abu Ghurayb prison, the Iraqi Communist Party said in a statement issued on October 25
- SEPTEMBER 22, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On September 22, 11 people were executed in Abu Ghurayb...
On September 22, 11 people were executed in Abu Ghurayb prison in Baghdad
- SEPTEMBER 20, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On September 20, 22 prisoners were executed in Abu...
On September 20, 22 prisoners were executed in Abu Ghurayb prison near Baghdad, the Iraqi Communist Party revealed on December 22
- AUGUST 10, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On August 10, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered...
On August 10, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered the execution of 26 people in a Baghdad prison, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Communist Party's Human Rights Center on September 13
- AUGUST 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
In August, President Saddam Hussein ordered the cancellation...
In August, President Saddam Hussein ordered the cancellation of the death penalty as a punishment for political offenses "provided that this does not include bombings and terrorist operations which lead to the killing of citizens or officials
- JULY 22, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
Iraq signed the letter, dated 22 July 1999, addressed...
Iraq signed the letter, dated 22 July 1999, addressed to the President of the Economic and Social Council, in which the retentionist countries dissociated from the Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/61 on the question of the death penalty
- JULY 8, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On July 8, as reported by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq...
On July 8, as reported by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Bayan Jabr, representative of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Syria and Lebanon, said that after the haphazard arrests made in the wake of the incidents that occurred in
- JUNE 14, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On June 14, a report distributed by the opposition...
On June 14, a report distributed by the opposition Iraqi Communist Party revealed that Iraqi security organs and military forces in northern Kirkuk Governorate have received strict instructions "to use all kinds of weapons" and arrest Kurdish youths in Ki
- MAY 5, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On May 5, UK Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett...
On May 5, UK Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett during a visit to Jordan said that reports of recent executions and Shiite unrest were signs of President Saddam Hussein's weakening grip on power
- APRIL 20, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On 20th April, London-based newspaper Al-Hayat, citing...
On 20th April, London-based newspaper Al-Hayat, citing a source in the "Constitutional Monarchist Movement," reported the Iraqi authorities' execution of Ja'far al-Sayyid Jawad and the arrest of members of his family
- APRIL 14, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 14, 58 political detainees were executed in...
On April 14, 58 political detainees were executed in the notorious Abu Ghurayb prison, said the Iraqi Communist Party's Human Rights Center in another statement faxed to Reuters in Cairo on 20 July
- APRIL 6, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 6, the Iraqi Public Security Directorate announced...
On April 6, the Iraqi Public Security Directorate announced that 4 men were executed for the killing of Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, a prominent Shiite Muslim spiritual leader and his sons Mustafa and Mua'mal in the holy city of Najaf last February
- MARCH 21, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On March 21, about 180 Iraqis were executed in Basra's...
On March 21, about 180 Iraqis were executed in Basra's al-Sabkhah suburb, and 56 others were executed in the province's security prison on March 23, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution, an Iran-based leading dissident group, reported on April 1
- MARCH 13, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On March 13, the Iraqi Public Security Directorate...
On March 13, the Iraqi Public Security Directorate announced that Muhammad Khudayyir Abbas, Abbas Khudayyir Abbas, Jasim Khudayyir Abbas, Haqqi Isma'il Abd Radi, Basim Abbas Abd Abbas, Abd Ali Mahdi Hassun, Abd al-Razzaq Hasan Mani and Faysal Ni'mah Husay
- FEBRUARY 18, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On February 18, the Revolution Command Council (RCC)...
On February 18, the Revolution Command Council (RCC) issued Decree No
- FEBRUARY 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
In February, 23 people accused of murder and theft...
In February, 23 people accused of murder and theft were executed
- JANUARY 4, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
On January 4, U
On January 4, U
- JANUARY 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
In mid-January, Col
In mid-January, Col
- JANUARY 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
The Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or...
The Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions said that reports continue to be received concerning the execution of hundreds of political prisoners detained in penitentiaries through the country
- JANUARY 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
In January, 106 political detainees were killed in...
In January, 106 political detainees were killed in three mass executions in Abu Ghurayb prison near Baghdad, the Iraqi Communist Party accused in a statement faxed to Reuters in Cairo on April 19
- JANUARY 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, economic offenses, drug...
Capital crimes are: murder, economic offenses, drug offenses and some political activities
- JANUARY 1, 1999IraqDEATH PENALTY
There are 6 Iraqi stowaways, 2 soldiers and 4 others...
There are 6 Iraqi stowaways, 2 soldiers and 4 others who refused to join the army, detained at a holding facility at Port Hedland in Western Australia