Drug abuse threats future of youth

A member of the Iraqi Higher Judicial Council Judge, Ahmed Abd Al-Kadhim Al-Hilali, said that the spread of drugs in Iraqi governorates had reached a level that cannot be disregarded, denied or glossed over. He articulated how this new problem could exceed the issue of terrorism and drug addiction had become a reality that must be dealt with. In an interview to Arabstoday, he said: “Iraqi courts are considering many cases related to drugs, including the arrest of dozens of drug promoters who possess huge amounts.” Al-Hilali added that until 2003, Iraq's transit had stopped due to the execution law applicable at that time against anyone who abused or sold these substances. Today things have changed, clarifies Al-Hilali, and Iraq had become a constant consumer of substances especially heroin, cocaine and opium in the absence of repelling legal penalties. Al-Hilali said that the issue has reached levels that cannot be overlooked as the majority of Iraqi youth have headed on towards drug abuse after the government banned alcoholic drinks — it has further perpetuated due to unemployment and poverty meaning these individuals resorted to substance abuse to help them feel better. It was found that gangs who smuggled and dealt drugs were providing opium and weed in the markets with some shisha café owners mixing it with shisha tobacco and giving to the youth for free. As time passed, these young Iraqi men became unknowingly addicted. Al-Hilali affirmed that drug countering departments have charged many individuals with the possession, and dealing of drugs. It was found that many were trafficking substances in from Iran through several means including hiding them inside their bodies or within the bodies of women. What further helped their trafficking was the lack of expertise among security troops in border points and inside Iraq when it came to understanding drugs, the different types and the various methods of smuggling. Al-Hilali commented on the danger of the spread of drugs within the Iraqi society saying that: “It is an imminent danger that is aggravating day by day. Its dangers may increase in the near future, if they are not faced. The danger of drugs far exceeds that of terrorist operations, since these operations in their maximum kill dozens of people but drugs may kill hundreds and thousands of young people in the near future.” Al-Hilali spoke about the period he spent as a judge in the Central Criminal Court of Iraq and clarified that he issued 133 death sentences, most of which were according to article four, concerned with terrorism. He added that the sentence was executed after the verdict became final and that some of them were of Arab nationalities. He added that the number of defendants executed was much larger than the numbers announced by concerned authorities and explained that a judge finds room to alleviate the verdict, in case of providing a motive and criminal evidence against the accused. Al-Hilali concluded saying that his conscience is clear because he applied the law on people who robbed others of their lives and so execution is a fair ruling against them.