COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ORDER NUMBER 7
PENAL CODE
Pursuant to my authority as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), relevant
U.N. Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1483 (2003), and the laws and
usages of war,
Reconfirming the provisions of General Franks' Freedom Message to the Iraqi People of
April 16,2003,
Recognizing that the former regime used certain provisions of the penal code as a tool of
repression in violation of internationally recognized human rights standards,
Acting on behalf, and for the benefit, of the Iraqi people,
I hereby promulgate the following:
Section 1
Judges, police and prosecutors
All judges, police and prosecutors shall perform their duties in accordance with CPA
Regulation No.1 (CPA/REG/23 May 2003/01) and in accordance with any other
Regulations, Orders, Memoranda or instructions issued by the CPA.
Section 2
Suspension of Certain Provisions of Penal Code
1) Without prejudice to the continuing review of Iraqi laws, the Third Edition of the
1969 Iraqi Penal Code with amendments, registered in Baghdad on the fifth day of
Jumada I 1389 or the nineteenth day of July 1969, shall apply, with the exception
that i) Part Two, Chapter Two, Paragraph 200, and ii) Part Two, Chapter Three,
Section One, Paragraph 225 are hereby suspended.
2) Legal proceedings may be brought with respect to the following offenses only
with the written permission of the Administrator of the CPA:
a) Part One, Chapter Four, Paragraphs 81-84, publication offenses.
b) Part Two, Chapter One, Paragraphs 156-189, offenses against the external
security of the state.
CPA/ORD/9 June 2003/07

c) Part Two, Chapter Two, Paragraphs 190-195; 198-199; 201-219, offenses
against the internal security of the state.
d) Part Two, Chapter Three, Section One, Paragraphs 223-224; 226-228, offenses
against public authorities.
e) Part Two, Chapter Three, Section Two, Paragraph 229, offense of insulting a
public official.
Section 3
Penalties
1) Capital punishment is suspended. In each case where the death penalty is the only
available penalty prescribed for an offense, the court may substitute the lesser
penalty of life imprisonment, or such other lesser penalty as provided for in the
Penal Code.
2) Torture and cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment is prohibited.
3) No person will be prosecuted for aiding, assisting, associating with, or working for
Coalition Forces or the CP A.
Section 4
Nondiscrimination
In exercising their official functions, all persons undertaking public duties or holding
public office, including all police, prosecutors, and judges, must apply the law
impartially. No person will be discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, color,
language, religion, political opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, or birth.
Section 5
Delegation of Authority
The Administrator of the CPA may delegate his authority under this Order.
CPA/ORD/9 June 2003/07