University professor Sarah Al-Aboudi, whose killing in Basra in November 2024 led to nationwide outrage.
Iraq’s judiciary denies commutation of death sentence in Basra professor’s murder
BASRA — Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council on Tuesday denied social media claims that the death sentence of Dhurgham Abdul-Salam al-Tamimi, convicted of murdering university professor Sarah al-Aboudi, had been reduced to life imprisonment.
In a statement, the judiciary’s media center said, “Some social media platforms circulated information about the case of the murder of Dr. Sarah Al-Aboudi. The Supreme Judicial Council would like to clarify that this information is incorrect, as the case has not yet been reviewed due to the priority of reviewing cases according to the date they are received by the Court of Cassation.”
Rumors spread online Monday night alleging that al-Tamimi’s sentence had been commuted from death by hanging to life imprisonment. The judiciary stressed that no such decision has been made.
On June 22, 2025, a Basra court sentenced al-Tamimi to death by hanging after convicting him of killing al-Aboudi, a professor at Basra University. The ruling was announced by former MP Rehab al-Aboudi, who described it as “a victory for justice” in a case that shocked Iraq.
Al-Aboudi praised the judiciary at the time, saying, “As we have come to expect from the Iraqi judiciary, it does not bargain with the blood of the innocent, and it stands firmly with justice against anyone who dares to violate the law and humanity.”
The case drew national attention in November 2024 after Sarah al-Aboudi’s body was found in a remote area south of Basra. Investigators said the suspect, a fellow academic and family acquaintance, attempted to mislead authorities by sending false messages from her phone.
He was arrested within 12 hours of the killing, according to Basra Governor Asaad al-Eidani, who confirmed the suspect is his brother-in-law but said, “The law applies to everyone without exception.”
The judiciary confirmed Tuesday that the death sentence remains in place until the Court of Cassation reviews the case in line with procedure.