Iraq sentences alleged terrorist to death for suicide bombing attempt against local forces

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – An Iraqi court on Sunday sentenced an alleged terrorist to death for attempting to blow himself up on security forces in the province of Salahuddin.

The ruling was issued by the Salahuddin Criminal Court, which stated the convicted man had been arrested in possession of a Glock pistol and an explosive belt in the city of Tikrit, the hometown of Iraq’s former dictator, Saddam Hussein.

The convicted man’s name was not mentioned, but the statement did mention that the suspect confessed to killing someone in Tikrit he believed had given information about his whereabouts to local authorities.

The court claimed the individual met with a terrorist commander in Salahuddin, believed to be an Islamic State member, to discuss the opening of a shop to keep explosive materials and build car bombs.

The statement added the death sentence was handed down “in accordance with the provisions of Article IV / 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005.”

The court did not offer details about the background of the convict nor his identity, and it did not outline when the arrest took place.

Recently, an Iraqi court sentenced a Belgian man to death by hanging for being a member of the Islamic State. 

Human rights groups have criticized inconsistencies in the judicial process and flawed, expedited trials in Iraq which may result in false convictions.

The Islamic State emerged in Iraq in 2014 and quickly occupied vast swaths of territory in the north. In late 2017, Iraq declared final victory against them, but the extremist group continues to launch insurgency attacks, ambushes, and kidnappings across the country.

Editing by Nadia Riva