More than a decade of quiet persistence, behind-the-scenes diplomacy and public campaigning by the IPU finally paid off in 2025 when former Iraqi MP Ahmed Al-Alwani was acquitted and released after 12 years behind bars on death row.
As an MP, Al-Alwani was supposed to be protected by parliamentary immunity. But he was arrested in December 2013 in Ramadi, Iraq, in a raid in which his brother and seven other people were killed. He was held incommunicado, tortured and sentenced to death by hanging.
The CHRP closely monitored the case from the beginning, repeatedly calling for Al-Alwani’s release and seeking opportunities to engage with the Iraqi authorities. The breakthrough came in 2023 when an IPU delegation visited Baghdad, led by then CHRP President Samuel Cogolati from Belgium and
former Committee member Mushahid Hussein from Pakistan. The IPU team met with high-level Iraqi leaders, Al-Alwani’s family and legal representatives, as well as the MP himself, who was still in prison under sentence of death.
The mission combined dialogue, transparency and trust-building, using diplomatic channels to urge political and religious leaders to prevent Al-Alwani’s execution and to seek a satisfactory resolution. Combined with the crucial mediation of tribal leaders and the Iraqi authorities’ commitment to
resolving the case, the IPU helped overcome longstanding political obstacles and contributed to Al-Alwani’s release.
“This outcome is a testament to the power of persistent advocacy, dialogue and international solidarity,” said IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong. “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.”
Al-Alwani’s family have credited the IPU with persistence, consistent advocacy, monitoring and direct engagement, which encouraged the Iraqi authorities to reach a long-awaited resolution. After his release, Al-Alwani thanked the IPU for its commitment and praised “the sustained efforts by both
government institutions and grassroots actors”.
Defending human rights is always challenging. Protecting MPs from abuse – and worse – is never easy. But the IPU, encouraged by cases such as that of Ahmed Al-Alwani, will continue to defend the rights of parliamentarians around the world.
Discover more case studies of how the IPU made a difference in 2025, by downloading the IPU Impact Report.
