Russian women implicated in Iraqi terrorist attacks to be tried in Iraq – amb.

Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – Iraq has the exclusive right to try Russian women, who are implicated in terrorist attacks on its territory, the Iraqi ambassador in Moscow said on Tuesday.

“It is difficult to send Russian women standing trial in Iraq to their homeland in order to serve their jail terms there,” Baghdad Today quoted Ambassador Haider Mansoor Al-Ithari as speaking at a press conference, stressing that the trial of Russian women will be pursuant to the Iraqi law.

“Work is underway to exchange prisoners between Iraq and Russia until an agreement is reached on that score,” the ambassador pointed out.

Iraq has sentenced several foreign nationals to death and life in prison over involvement with the Islamic State during the extremist group’s three-year occupation of large parts of the country.

Iraq is holding hundreds of foreign wives and children of Islamic State militants who were captured as Iraqi forces gradually seized back territories held by the extremist group since 2014. The government declared victory over IS last December.

Authorities say they are coordinating with other countries to extradite those held who are not convicted of terrorism.

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.