Iraqi court sentences former official to death over Anfal campaign crimes

The Iraqi High Criminal Court sentenced Ajaj Ahmed Hardan to death by hanging on Thursday for genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Kurds during the 1988 Anfal campaign under the rule of Saddam Hussein. According to the Iraqi News Agency, the ruling was issued over Hardan’s role in crimes carried out during the Anfal operations, which targeted Kurdish communities in Iraq. The Iraqi National Security Service announced in August 2025 that Hardan had been arrested following a six-month intelligence operation. Authorities said his family had falsely claimed he was dead in an attempt to mislead security services. Investigators eventually located and detained him in Salah al-Din Governorate after obtaining judicial authorisation. During questioning, Hardan reportedly confessed to multiple crimes […]