Iraqi court sentences 7 to death

No mercy for drug dealers in Iraq as Iraqi court has sentenced 7 to death, including one foreign national.

The Central Criminal Court issued the verdicts for the individuals convicted of trafficking narcotic substances.

The council’s statement did not specify the nationality of the foreign convict but highlighted that the sentences were for the import and export of narcotics from neighboring countries.

The ongoing chaos and conflicts in Iraq, which have persisted since the U.S. invasion in 2003, have hampered successive Iraqi governments’ efforts to combat the drug trade effectively. The instability has provided a fertile ground for drug trafficking operations.

In May 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani emphasized the urgent need to combat the drug epidemic, labeling it a significant source of terrorist financing. Al-Sudani pointed out that the circulation of drugs often thrives under the cover of terrorism, underscoring the intricate link between narcotics and ongoing violence in the region.