Dr. Ahmed Fares Idris
University of Mosul – College of Law

Introduction:

The phenomenon of suicide is one of the serious phenomena that threatens human and social structures in various societies, due to the deep psychological, social, and legal repercussions it leaves behind. In recent years, the world has witnessed a noticeable increase in suicide rates, particularly among young people, as a result of psychological, economic, and social pressures, as well as a decline in the level of family and educational support. This phenomenon is no longer an individual issue concerning a specific person; it has rather become a societal challenge that requires the combined efforts of legal, religious, educational, and psychological authorities to address it and curb its spread.

Addressing the phenomenon of suicide cannot be achieved through punitive measures alone; rather, it requires building a preventive system based on psychological and social awareness and the consolidation of a culture of containment and human support. Hence, the importance of studying this phenomenon from a legal and academic perspective arises, to clarify its causes, effects, and means of reducing it, while explaining the stance of Islamic Sharia and the Iraqi Penal Code regarding it.

First: The Concept and Definition of Suicide:

Suicide is defined as a person deliberately ending their life of their own free will using a means that leads to death directly or indirectly. Suicide is considered a voluntary act based on criminal intent represented by the desire to end life, and it differs from accidental death or unintentional incidents.

Psychologists and sociologists have addressed the phenomenon of suicide as a reflection of a state of psychological disorder or social imbalance, while the law views it from the perspective of protecting the right to life and preventing any act that may infringe upon it.