Iraqi court sentences two terrorists to life for joining Islamic State

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – An Iraqi court has sentenced two men to life in jail for joining and collaborating with the Islamic State group, the latest in a series of heavy verdicts against jihadists in the country.

One of the terrorists was found guilty of “joining the so-called Islamic police” while the other was providing the terrorist group with information on the presence of security forces, according to the Central Criminal Court, which issued the verdict.

Iraqi courts have sentenced many of Islamic State members, including a big number of female members, to death over joining the militant group.

The exact number of detained militants is still unknown, however, it’s estimated to be at thousands. It’s also unclear how many members are likely to face death sentences.

Moreover, the Iraqi government did not provide estimates about the number of the detained militants but some experts estimate that Iraq is holding 20,000 people in jail over suspected IS membership.

Human rights groups have always criticized collective death sentences issued by Iraqi courts, claiming that some detainees are tortured and threatened.

Iraq’s anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have helped jihadists even if they are not accused of carrying out attacks.