Baghdad court jails man for selling infant son on social media

BAGHDAD — A Baghdad man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday for selling his infant son after advertising him on social media, the Supreme Judicial Council announced.

“The Rusafa Criminal Court has sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison for selling his infant son in exchange for a sum of money after offering him on social media,” the council said in a statement.

The verdict was issued under Article 6 of Iraq’s Human Trafficking Law No. 28 of 2012, with reference to Article 132 of the Penal Code. Article 6 mandates life imprisonment and fines ranging from 15 million IQD ($10,000) to 25 million IQD ($16,667) for human trafficking offenses under certain aggravating circumstances. These include cases involving victims under 18 years old, females, or persons with disabilities, as well as scenarios where the perpetrator is a relative, guardian, or spouse.

On Nov. 25, 2024, the Iraqi Federal Police announced it had thwarted an attempt to sell a newborn baby in Baghdad’s Karrada district. Earlier, on July 16, 2024, the Ministry of Interior reported that 345 individuals were arrested for involvement in human trafficking during the first half of that year. Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Muqdad Miri told Al-Sabah newspaper, “The ministry has launched extensive campaigns to combat and reduce human trafficking crimes, resulting in the arrest of 345 suspects over the past six months.”