On Thursday, April 10, 2025, the College of Law at the University of Baghdad hosted a discussion of the Dissertation titled “Criminal Protection of the Elderly: A Comparative Study” by the student Sahar Abbas Khalaf from the Criminal Law. The discussion took place in the model courtroom at the college.
The discussion committee was composed of the following esteemed members:
- Prof. Dr. Kazem Abdullah Hussein – Chairman
- Prof. Dr. Nawal Tariq Ibrahim – Member
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zaman Hamed Hadi – Member
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samer Saadoun – Member
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sabah Sami Dawood – Member
- Prof. Dr. Alaa Nasser Hussein – Member and Supervisor
The Dissertation aimed to highlight the importance of providing criminal protection for the elderly, recognizing them as one of the most vulnerable groups in society, facing numerous psychological, social, and economic challenges as they age.
The Dissertation consisted of three chapters:
- The first chapter dealt with the nature of criminal protection for the elderly.
- The second chapter focused on the application of substantive criminal protection for the elderly.
- The third chapter discussed the role of the family and legal entities in protecting the elderly.
The thesis concluded with several key recommendations, including:
- The need for expedited amendments to the Iraqi Penal Code to ensure adequate protection for the elderly.
- The recommendation to adopt a mixed criterion that includes age, health, social, and psychological status when defining the elderly.
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The proposal to amend Article (371) of the Iraqi Penal Code, emphasizing the need to reconsider the penalty for the crime of neglecting to care for the elderly, as the current penalty is insufficient and does not correspond to the severity of the offense committed.
