Iraqi judicial authorities handed down death sentences to four Islamic State (IS) members, including a man who was recruiting militants across Nineveh, like reported by kurdistan24.net.
The execution sentences are the first verdicts issued in Mosul since Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced victory against IS in early July.
After nine months of fierce clashes, the extremist group was ousted from their last major stronghold and de facto capital in the country.
Judge Abdul Sattar Bayraktar, a spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council, said the four suspects who were handed death sentences belonged to the militant group.
“The four men were given the death penalty after being convicted of belonging and having an allegiance to [IS],” the judge’s statement read.
He added the four convicted members had been involved in “a number of terrorist crimes.”
“The investigations indicate that one of the terrorists was recruiting fighters to join the ranks of the organization,” Judge Bayraktar noted.
As the militant group continues to lose control in Iraq, more IS militants are surrendering or being captured by Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces.
The number of extremists currently detained and held in Iraqi prisons as well as how many of those will face the death penalty is unknown.
International humanitarian organizations, including the European Union, have criticized the Federal Government of Iraq and urge Baghdad to remove the death penalty.
According to Iraqi forces, over 25,000 IS militants were killed during the battle to liberate Mosul.
Security forces have now turned their attention to the city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, where an estimated 2,000 extremists remain.
