IRAQ Nineveh Criminal Court sentences owner of property to 10 years in prison over Baghdede wedding hall fire tragedy that claimed over 100 lives

BAGHDEDE, Iraq — Over a year after the devastating fire that struck the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian community in the Nineveh Plains town of Baghdede (Qaraqosh / Hamdaniyah), Iraq, the Nineveh Criminal Court sentenced Samir Suleiman Aso to 10 years of imprisonment.

The court issued the sentence under the provisions of Article 343 of the Penal Code No. 111 of 1969. The conviction pertains to Aso’s role in causing the fire at Al-Haytham Hall which killed 107 people and injured another 82.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ruled that the personal claims of plaintiffs and injured complainants could be pursued through civil courts for compensation. However, the court did not address the fate of items seized during the investigation, as these are tied to pending decisions in related cases involving other defendants.

The verdict, which was unanimous, was issued in accordance with Article 182 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. It was delivered publicly on 11 December 2024, marking a significant legal milestone in the aftermath of the tragedy.

This ruling is seen as a step toward justice for the victims of the fire, though questions about broader accountability and compensation remain unresolved.