Iraq’s parliament to vote on stricter drug law imposing death penalty for traffickers

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Parliament is preparing to vote on an amendment to the country’s drug control law that would replace life imprisonment with the death penalty for certain drug traffickers. The amendment, proposed by the Anti-Drug and Psychotropic Substances Committee, aims to impose harsher penalties on both international and domestic drug dealers in response to Iraq’s growing drug crisis.

Committee Chair Adnan Al-Juhaishi said the proposed changes to Law 50 of 2017 are nearing completion. “We’ve worked extensively on these revisions to ensure stricter punishment for major drug traffickers,” Al-Juhaishi told Al Iraqiya. He noted that the death penalty would apply in cases where large quantities of drugs are involved or where the actions of traffickers pose a severe threat to public health and security.

The amendments also focus on prevention and rehabilitation, calling for increased cooperation with the Ministry of Health to establish rehabilitation centers for drug users. The changes would also elevate the rank of the Director General of Drug Control to Deputy Minister to strengthen enforcement. “Our approach is comprehensive, addressing both the prevention and punishment aspects of the drug problem,” Al-Juhaishi said.

The proposed law includes a provision to create a fund for drug treatment programs, financed by the government and assets seized from convicted traffickers.

Iraq has seen a sharp rise in drug-related arrests and seizures, with more than four tons of narcotics confiscated in the first half of this year. Al-Juhaishi stressed that tackling the drug epidemic requires cooperation across society, from families to every level of government. “There is strong determination to fight this growing problem, but it will take cooperation from all sectors of society,” he said.

On Aug. 31, the Ministry of Interior reported that 311 drug traffickers, both local and international, were sentenced to either death or life imprisonment this year. The ministry also announced plans to establish a regional drug control operations center in Baghdad following a meeting with interior ministers from neighboring countries.

Under Article 27 of Iraq’s Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law, individuals convicted of importing, transporting, or exporting narcotics or psychotropic substances face either life imprisonment or the death penalty.