Iraqi court sentences four Islamic State militants to life in jail
Baghdad’s central criminal court.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – An Iraqi criminal court has sentenced four militants of Islamic State to life in jail over joining the terrorist group, the Iraqi judiciary announced.
“The convicts were members of the so-called Islamic police of the terrorist Daesh (Islamic State) group,” Shafaq News website quoted spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council Abdul-Sattar al-Birqdar as saying on Sunday.
According to al-Birqdar, “the convicts admitted pledging allegiance to Islamic State and taking several training, Islamic and military courses.”
Iraqi courts have sentenced tens of Islamic State members, including a big number of female members, to death over joining the militant group.
The exact number of detained militants is still unknown, however, it’s estimated to be at thousands. It’s also unclear how many members are likely to face death sentences.
Moreover, the Iraqi government did not provide estimates about the number of the foreign detained militants or those who have Arab or Iraqi origins.
Human rights groups have always criticized collective death sentences issued by Iraqi courts, claiming that some detainees are tortured and threatened.
Iraq’s anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have helped jihadists even if they are not accused of carrying out attacks.