Inmate convicted on drug charges dies in Basra prison

BASRA — A 43-year-old inmate serving a sentence for drug-related offenses died Wednesday evening at the Basra Central Prison, according to a security source.

The source told 964media that the inmate died inside the prison’s medical center due to sudden cardiac arrest.

The deceased was a resident of the Al-Hussein neighborhood in Basra and had been serving a six-year sentence under the Anti-Narcotics Law.

In late December 2025, another 48-year-old inmate at Basra Central Prison died after suffering from heart failure. The deceased had been serving a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking under Article 14 of the Iraqi Penal Code.

Many testimonies highlight widespread poor health, rapid disease transmission, and medical neglect in Iraqi prisons. The basic lack of hygiene makes these facilities a breeding ground for diseases. The crisis is further aggravated by inadequate ventilation and the absence of sanitizers. Additionally, overcrowding in Iraqi prisons is intensifying due to an increase in detentions and judicial delays.