Iraq launches compensation process for victims of former Baath regime

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Supreme Commission for Accountability and Justice has begun accepting compensation applications from victims of crimes committed under the former Baath Party regime, the commission said. Eligible claimants include those harmed by the Baath Party and its repressive bodies, who can file for compensation under Article 3, Paragraph 4 of the 2008 Accountability and Justice Law (Law No. 10). The commission has directed all ministries and state institutions to prioritize case files and paperwork related to the victims and to expedite applications submitted to commission representatives. It also called for cutting bureaucratic correspondence to speed up the resolution of claims. The commission said fast processing of victims' files would strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and stressed that the victims had endured severe persecution under Baath rule. It described the compensation process as both a legal obligation and a humanitarian and moral responsibility.