Negotiations Underway for Israeli Man Sentenced to Death in Iraq

Negotiations are reportedly progressing toward the release of Binyamin Ben Limor (Hassin), an Orthodox Jew sentenced to death in Iraq for killing a taxi driver. Sources cited by The Yeshiva World suggest he could arrive in Israel within weeks. Hassin, originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, traveled to the region in 2014 to visit his grandparents during the conflict with the Islamic State. The taxi driver reportedly overheard Hassin speaking Hebrew and threatened to report him to ISIS. A struggle ensued, during which Hassin fatally wounded the driver. Hassin was arrested and, in 2020, sentenced to death by hanging by a court in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Following lengthy negotiations, the victim's family agreed to accept blood money, a practice known as 'sulha,' leading to the commutation of his death sentence. However, Hassin remained imprisoned. Representatives from the religious community are now engaged in talks for his release, citing the religious commandment to free captives. The publication is also urging the public to recite Psalms for Hassin's swift liberation.