Iraq officially promulgates anti-terrorism law and its penalties

 

 

 

 

The Iraqi government officially published the text of the Anti-Terrorism Law and the list of penalties related to it on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Iraqi officials announced that the purpose of publicly publishing these regulations is to make everyone aware of the legal provisions so that no one, under any specific title or pretext, engages in terrorist activities or supports terrorists.

 

Definitions and examples of terrorist behaviors

This law sets out detailed guidelines and definitions for identifying terrorist acts as follows:

1. Terrorist behavior includes any criminal act by an individual or group that targets individuals, groups, official or unofficial institutions and damages public and private property with the aim of disrupting security, national unity, creating fear and panic, or creating chaos.
2. Any attempt to intentionally destroy, destroy or damage public buildings and facilities, government interests, offices, the private sector or public places designated for public use is a crime. Also, occupying these places or preventing their use with the aim of disrupting stability is considered a terrorist act.
3. Counteracting any action that leads to sectarian strife, civil war, or religious conflict; these include arming citizens, encouraging them to bear arms against each other, or providing funding for these purposes.
4. Violent behavior and armed attacks on army bases, police, volunteer centers, security departments, military units, communication lines, and military camps with terrorist intentions.
5. Emphasis has been placed on protecting embassies and diplomatic missions in Iraq, along with all Iraqi institutions, Arab and foreign companies, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations; any armed attack on these centers is considered a terrorist crime.
6. Kidnapping or detaining individuals and restricting their freedom for the purpose of extortion (blackmail) or for political, tribal, national, religious, and gender-based purposes that endanger national security and integrity.

 

Penalties provided for in the law

The new law provides for strict penalties for perpetrators of the above crimes, as follows:

1. Death penalty: Any person who is a principal or accomplice in any of these terrorist acts will be sentenced to death. Instigators, planners, financiers, and those who assist terrorists in committing the crime will also be subject to the same punishment.
2. Life imprisonment: Life imprisonment is provided for individuals who intentionally conceal any terrorist act or provide a hiding place and shelter for terrorists with the aim of supporting them.