Iraqi court sentences Belgian man to death

An Iraqi court sentenced a Belgian man to death by hanging on Monday for being part of Daesh militant group, one of dozens of foreign nationals facing the death penalty in Iraq.

Iraq has put hundreds of suspected members of the militant group on trial, many of whom were arrested as Daesh lost a string of strongholds to Us-backed military campaigns throughout Iraq.

The Central Criminal Court in Baghdad handed Belgian national Bilal Al Marchohi, 23, the death penalty for belonging to and conducting operations on behalf of Daesh.

During an hour of proceedings, the presiding judge read out portions of Marchohi’s signed confession and showed a video and photographs that he said proved his membership of Daesh.

The images from a phone found in his possession at the time of his arrest showed Marchohi carrying a gun and making a hand gesture affiliated with the militants. Several pictures showed him cradling his infant son.

Marchohi denied all allegations against him in open court, including that he was a member of Daesh at any time.

“I shouldn’t be prosecuted in Iraq,” Marchohi said. “I should be prosecuted in Belgium. I am a Belgian citizen.”

Judge Jumaa Saidi told the court that the photographs were clear evidence Marchohi was a member of Daesh.

A translator was appointed by the judge for Marchohi, who spoke in English throughout the trial. He was also given a court appointed lawyer but had no contact with him during the trial.

Belgian consular representatives atended the proceedings.

The Belgian Foreign Ministry said it had no power to intervene but had made clear to the Iraqi government its opposition to the death penalty. “We have done it a few times - even before Mr Al Marchohi and Mr Jadaoun were put to trial,” a ministry spokesman said in Brussels.

Marchohi’s family, who live in the Belgian city of Antwerp, declined to comment.

Marchohi is the second of two Belgians held in Iraq known to have been sentenced to death for a role in Daesh.