The procedure regulating extradition requests to the Iraqi courts is dealt with in Articles 357 to 368 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Article 358(4) prohibits the extradtition of Iraqi Nationals. This is echoed in Article 21 of the constitution which states: No Iraqi shall be surrendered to foreign entities and authorities. Similar rules are found […]
Category: Notes from Baghdad
Commission on Integrity, GJPI & IREX hold lively and purposeful roundtable
On 18 November 2009 in Baghdad, the Commission on Integrity, GJPI & IREX held a roundtable on anti-corruption. Vigorous discussion concerning anti-corruption took place between members of the judicial, executive and legislative branches; anti-corruption institutions and the media. Speakers included: Judge Ezzat Tawfiq Jaafer, Deputy Commissioner COI Patricia Wildermuth, Director, Office of Constitutional and Legislative Affairs, U.S. […]
Guardian fined for reporting criticism of Prime Minister Maliki
The British Guardian newspaper reported on 12 November 2009 that it had been fined 100 million dinars by an Iraqi court for reporting criticism of the country’s prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. the fine was paid to al-Maliki as damages for defamation. Al-Maliki’s Dawa party issued a statement on Thursday 12 November 2009 denying that the […]
Bank robbers receive death sentences
On 2 September 2009, at the Rusafa Felony Court in Baghdad, four men, all Iraqi security force members, were convicted and sentenced to death for the robbery and brutal murder of eight bank guards at the the Zuwiya branch of the Rafidain Bank in Central Baghdad on 28 July 2009. The men were named as […]
Deputy Transport Minister Arrested on Suspicion of Corruption: UPDATE
The Voice of Iraq reported on 3 September 2009 that: “The Commission of Integrity (CoI) has arrested a top official from the Ministry of Transportation in the course of taking a bribe”, said officials close to the case. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to give more details about the name of […]
Shoe Thrower to get early release
The Huffington Post reported on Saturday 29 August 2009 that the lawyer representing Muntadar al-Zaidi has stated that the Iraqi journalist, jailed after hurling his shoes at former President George W. Bush, will be released next month after his sentence was reduced for good behavior. For previous posts on this matter see here, here and […]
Professor Mallat discusses Constitution with President
On invitation by President Talabani, Professor Chibli Mallat, visiting Suleymaniye, discussed the Constitution with the President and Iraqi leaders including Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Barham Saleh, several Ministers and Dr. Fouad Massoum (pictured), Deputy-Chair of the Constitutional Review Committee.
CLA and UU Meet with Speaker
April Powell-Willingham, Chibli Mallat, Hiram Chodosh, Vincent Battle, Alan Zangana, Rashid Asali and Munaf Hamed met with newly elected Speaker Iyad Sammaraie at the Council of Representatives on May 5, 2009.
Historic visit to Baghdad by Kurdistan Region Chief Justice
Kurdistan Region Chief Justice Ahmed travelled to Baghdad on 8 April 2009 for the first time in 20 years to meet with Iraqi Chief Justice Medhat and new Iraqi Minister of Justice Dara Nur-al Din. Following up upon their successful meeting at the Judicial Federalism conference in Erbil on 28 and 29 March 2009 and […]
Judicial Independence Conference
GJPI attended the Judicial Independence Conference in Erbil on 30 and 31 March 2009, organised by ICJI, IIRL and USIP. The conference presentations addressed a number of aspects of judicial independence including the position of the Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Training Institute, the Administrative Court function of the Shura Council and the Public […]