The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) welcomes the release and acquittal of former Iraqi MP Mr. Ahmed Al-Alwani on 23 April 2025, following more than a decade of detention.
Mr. Al-Alwani was arrested in December 2013 in Ramadi, Iraq, in a raid that violated his parliamentary immunity and resulted in the deaths of his brother and seven others. He was held incommunicado, tortured and sentenced to death by hanging.
The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians has been closely monitoring the case, repeatedly calling for his release and seeking opportunities to engage with Iraqi authorities.
In August 2023, a breakthrough came when an IPU delegation, including the Committee President at the time, Mr. Samuel Cogolati, and former member Mr. Mushahid Hussein, visited Baghdad. The team met with Iraqi leaders at the highest levels, as well as Mr. Al-Alwani in detention, his family and legal representatives.
The mission provided a platform for dialogue, transparency and trust-building. During the visit, the IPU used diplomatic channels to urge political and religious leaders to prevent Mr. Al-Alwani’s execution and to seek a satisfactory resolution.
More recently, the release of Mr. Al-Alwani became possible after the family of a victim from the 2013 raid withdrew their complaint and accepted financial compensation, enabling Mr. Al-Alwani to benefit from the amnesty law.
The IPU’s efforts, combined with the crucial mediation of tribal leaders and the Iraqi authorities’ commitment to resolving the case, helped overcome longstanding political obstacles and contributed to Mr. Al-Alwani’s release.
Mr. Al-Alwani’s family have credited the IPU’s consistent advocacy, monitoring and direct engagement with promoting accountability and encouraging the Iraqi authorities to reach a fair and peaceful resolution.
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong said: “I warmly welcome the release and acquittal of former Iraqi MP Ahmed Al-Alwani after more than a decade of detention. This outcome is a testament to the power of persistent advocacy, dialogue, and international solidarity. I commend the tireless efforts by the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, tribal leaders and the Iraqi authorities in overcoming the obstacles to uphold the rights and dignity of Mr. Al-Alwani."
Background
The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians is the only international complaints mechanism with the specific mandate to defend the human rights of persecuted parliamentarians around the world. Its work includes mobilizing the international parliamentary community to support threatened MPs, lobbying national authorities, visiting MPs in danger and sending trial observers.
Find out more about the live cases currently being monitored by the IPU.
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The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 181 national Member Parliaments and 14 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener, more innovative and gender-balanced.
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