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
DECEMBER 30, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 88 TERRORIST CONVICTS EXECUTED IN 2016
The Iraqi authorities executed 88 terrorists convicts in 2016, despite the international calls to stop this punishment in this country.
DECEMBER 17, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: ISIS EXECUTES TEENAGER IN KIRKUK ON CHARGES OF SPYING
The ISIS terrorist group has executed an Iraqi teenager in southern Kirkuk, after accusing him of spying for the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, local sources reported.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: PALESTINIAN YOUTH EXECUTED
Iraqi authorities executed a Palestinian youth after accusing him of collaborating with armed groups in Iraq,
AUGUST 31, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: SEVEN ARABS HANGED FOR BELONGING TO AL-QAEDA
Iraq hanged seven men of various Arab nationalities who were convicted of belonging to the Al-Qaeda network, officials said.
- AUGUST 17, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
sources of the Nassiriya prison said that four Iraqi citizens were executed for terrorism.
sources of the Nassiriya prison said that four Iraqi citizens were executed for terrorism.
- AUGUST 17, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
according the website www.capitalpunishmentuk.or, 3 men, who remain unnamed, were hanged in Iraq for rape.
according the website www.capitalpunishmentuk.or, 3 men, who remain unnamed, were hanged in Iraq for rape.
JULY 13, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: PRESIDENT APPROVES DECISION TO CARRY OUT DEATH PENALTY
Iraqi President Fuad Masoum has approved a decision to carry out death sentences for a number of
- JULY 8, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: ISIS HAS EXECUTED 5 SUNNI TRIBESMEN AND BEHEADED 6 OF THEIR OWN MILITANTS FOR SPYING
The Islamic State (Isis) militant group has executed 6 of their own fighters and 5 Sunni tribesmen in Iraq for allegedly spying for their enemies.
- JULY 5, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: TWO CONVICTED TERRORISTS EXECUTED
Iraqi Justice Ministry announced executing today two convicted terrorists.
JULY 4, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: FIVE PRISONERS SENTENCED TO DEATH WERE EXECUTED AFTER ATTACK IN BAGHDAD
Iraq executed five convicts, the justice ministry said, linking the timing of the executions to the Baghdad suicide bombing the previous day that killed more than 200 people.
JULY 4, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: PM ORDERS IMMEDIATE EXECUTION OF ALL TERRORISTS ON DEATH ROW
Iraq's Prime Minister Haider Abadi has ordered that all terrorists sentenced to death be immediately executed, local media reported.
JUNE 22, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: PERPETRATORS OF ERBIL GOVERNORATE ATTACK RECEIVE DEATH SENTENCE
The Islamic State (IS) members responsible for the terror attack in front of the Erbil Governorate in 2014
- JUNE 20, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 12 TERROR CONVICTS EXECUTED
During a press conference in Baghdad, Justice Minister Haidar al-Zamili announced that another 12 people,
JUNE 13, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: SEVEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2015 BOMBING NEAR U.S. CONSULATE
Seven people were sentenced to death by an Erbil court for their role in the bombing outside of the U.S.
MAY 23, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: JUSTICE MINISTRY ANNOUNCES EXECUTION OF 22 CONVICTS
Iraq has executed 22 people over the past month who were convicted of terrorism and other crimes, the justice minister announced.
MARCH 13, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 20 CONVICTS EXECUTED, 70 WAITING, JUSTICE MINISTER
Iraqi Justice Minister Haidar al-Zamili disclosed that 20 death verdicts were executed on March 6 for
- MARCH 2, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: ISIS RELEASE 'DEATH LIST' OF EXECUTIONS
Islamic State militants have released a “death list” of 1,065 people they have murdered in one city in the past year.
FEBRUARY 18, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: ISIS EXECUTE A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY BY BEHEADING AFTER HE IS CAUGHT LISTENING TO WESTERN MUSIC
A teenage boy has been beheaded by ISIS for simply listening to Western music.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 40 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2014 TIKRIT MASSACRE
An Iraqi court sentenced 40 men to hang over the June 2014 massacre by Sunni jihadists and allied militants of hundreds of military recruits in Tikrit, the judiciary said.
FEBRUARY 11, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: FOUR WOMEN ARE RAPED BY ISIS FIGHTERS AND THEN STONED TO DEATH IN MOSUL AS PUNISHMENT FOR 'COMMITTING ADULTERY'
Radical group of the Islamic State (ISIS) executed four women in the city of Mosul in Iraq’s northwestern Nineveh province, after accusing them of “committing adultery.
- FEBRUARY 9, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: ISIS PUBLICLY EXECUTES JOURNALIST IN MOSUL
Extremists of the Islamic State (ISIS) executed an Iraqi journalist in Mosul city of the northwestern Nineveh
- FEBRUARY 7, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: SAUDI EXECUTED ON CONCOCTED CHARGES
Iraqi authorities executed in Baghdad a Saudi prisoner, Abdullah Azam Al-Qahtani, 35, on charges
JANUARY 31, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: PRESIDENT MASSOUM SIGNS EXECUTION ORDERS FOR CONVICTED TERRORISTS
Iraqi President Fouad Massoum signed execution orders for offenders convicted of terrorist offenses, his spokesman announced.
- JANUARY 1, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
DECEMBER 2, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: ISIS EXTREMISTS THROW ‘GAY COUPLE’ OFF A ROOF IN PALMYRA
The extremist group of Islamic State (ISIS) threw two Syrian men off the top of a building in Palmyra city in
- NOVEMBER 24, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: ISIS EXECUTE TWO MORE GAY MEN
Islamic State (ISIS) militants have executed another two men accused of being gay in Iraq.
NOVEMBER 22, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 3 DEATH SENTENCES FOR JOURNALIST'S KILLERS
The Iraqi Central Criminal Court announced the death verdict against three convicts who were charged of killing the Iraqi journalist Nadhim Na'eem al-Qaisi.
NOVEMBER 10, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: CRIMINAL COURT OF KARBALA ISSUES DEATH SENTENCE ON MURDERERS OF SOLDIER MUSTAFA AL-ATHARI
Criminal Court of Karbala has sentenced to death by hanging on four terrorists belonging to ISIS
NOVEMBER 5, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTYUN GROUP: TERROR FIGHT NO EXCUSE FOR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
A U.N. watchdog group has accused Iraq of violating the human rights of its citizens in the name of
- NOVEMBER 3, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HANDS 2 SAUDIS DEATH, 3 ON THE LIST
Iraq’s Central Criminal Court has sentenced two Saudis to death by hanging after finding them guilty on