Iraqi MP Exposes Massive Pension Fraud: Over 20,000 Terrorists Receive Martyr Salaries
He estimates that over 1.08 trillion Iraqi dinars (approximately $825 million) have been wrongfully disbursed through this scheme.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — A member of Iraq’s Parliament has revealed a staggering case of corruption within the country’s Martyrs Foundation, claiming that more than 20,000 individuals affiliated with terrorist groups are fraudulently receiving monthly salaries and benefits as if they were fallen martyrs or displaced civilians.
According to Iraqi lawmaker Amir Maamouri, speaking exclusively to Kurdistan24, tens of thousands of terrorists and their families are listed in the Martyrs Foundation’s records under false pretenses. These individuals reportedly collect monthly salaries and enjoy a range of privileges reserved for the families of Iraqis killed in the line of duty or displaced due to violence. In many cases, Maamouri asserts, these so-called beneficiaries include individuals charged with terrorist acts, such as car bombings and attacks on civilians.
Some of the recipients are even alleged to be active members of armed militant groups currently fighting in Syria. One such individual, officially registered as a “displaced civilian,” is accused of killing over 500 Iraqi citizens.
Maamouri disclosed that this fraudulent network spans several provinces. “In one province alone, 25,000 terrorists have been falsely registered as martyrs,” he said. “In others, the number ranges from 2,000 to 3,000.” He estimates that over 1.08 trillion Iraqi dinars (approximately $825 million) have been wrongfully disbursed through this scheme.
The corruption appears to stem from falsified documentation. Following the defeat of ISIS in 2017, thousands of terrorists allegedly created fake identities to be registered as martyrs or displaced persons by both the Martyrs Foundation and the Department of Displaced Persons. As a result, their families now benefit from housing, land, and full government entitlements meant for legitimate victims.
Shawan Kalari, a member of Iraq’s Parliamentary Committee on Martyrs, confirmed the issue, citing examples from Anbar and Babil provinces. “People who were never martyrs have been registered as such with fabricated paperwork. Some were known terrorists,” he said.
Kalari added that the scandal reflects a broader pattern of systemic corruption across Iraqi government institutions. “This is a country where $2.5 billion was withdrawn from the banks with forged documents,” he said. “If that can happen, then forging the identity of a so-called martyr is no surprise.”
Kurdistan24 contacted the Martyrs Foundation for comment, but officials declined to be interviewed. They only stated that investigations are ongoing and that some fraudulent names have already been removed from their records.
Iraq’s Martyrs Foundation was established to honor and compensate the families of Iraqis killed during decades of conflict, including wars, sectarian violence, and terrorism. However, widespread corruption has plagued Iraq’s post-war recovery efforts. The country ranks among the most corrupt nations in the world, according to Transparency International. In recent years, investigative reports have exposed deep-rooted fraud in government programs, especially those involving pension disbursements and victim compensation.
This latest revelation raises urgent questions about oversight, data verification, and the political will to root out systemic corruption that diverts vital funds from genuine victims to perpetrators of violence.
