Iraq: Dismantling Networks for Organ Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

The spokesman for the Iraqi Interior Ministry, Colonel Abbas Al-Bahadli, announced that "the fight against human trafficking in the Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency during the first half of this year resulted in dismantling 62 networks for sexual exploitation and 9 networks for selling human organs".

He added that "security forces also managed to arrest 15 other networks for forced labor, 4 networks for selling children, and 6 others for organized begging. Additionally, 82 suspects were arrested for sorcery and witchcraft".

Human rights reports indicate that Iraqi authorities have succeeded in apprehending over 1800 networks and criminals accused of human trafficking crimes in the past three years, including 162 suspects in cases of selling human organs, with 158 human trafficking victims placed in protection centers.

Human trafficking in Iraq takes various forms, including sexual exploitation, forced labor, organized begging, child trafficking, and even human organ trafficking, all of which are crimes punishable in some cases by life imprisonment or death if the victim dies.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain significant due to the expanding activities of criminal gangs and their connections with external networks, necessitating enhanced regional and international cooperation, the development of national legislation, and the provision of protection and support for victims.