ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The head of the Martyrs and Wounded Committee in Anbar province, Raheeb al-Hais, revealed that the families of around 900 deceased members of the Islamic State (ISIS) have been receiving salaries designated for martyrs.

Hais told The New Region that “a special investigative committee has been formed to review and sort through the operations and to prevent forgery.”

He pointed out that “hundreds of people received retirement pensions even though they were ISIS members who were killed during the liberation battles with the security forces in 2015 and 2016.”

He confirmed that the special investigative committee in Baghdad has suspended the salaries of about 30,000 records after uncovering cases of fraud and tampering in the applicants’ files. Payments are still ongoing, but at lower rates, to allow for more thorough auditing and to eliminate fake names whose cases were processed illegally.

He added that “there was corruption and document forgery during the previous period, but now there are stricter committees, and we do not allow any file that does not meet the requirements to pass. We have stopped the salaries of terrorist elements whose families had been receiving payments as if they were martyrs.”

The Reconstruction Fund for Liberated Areas was established under Article 28 of the 2015 Budget Law to serve as a body coordinating between international organizations and Iraqi ministries in reconstruction operations.

After Anbar Province was declared liberated from ISIS control, the government decided to classify those killed as a result of military errors as “martyrs” entitled to pensions, provided their non-affiliation with ISIS was proven. Pensions were also allocated to those wounded in military operations.

Spokesman for the Popular Movement in Anbar Province, Dhari al-Rishawi, stated that “corruption in the compensation file of Anbar, especially in the Martyrs Foundation, has reached dangerous levels.”

He explained to The New Region that “some ISIS members killed during the years of military operations were counted as martyrs and are receiving salaries from the Martyrs Foundation as if they were victims of military operations, through falsification of medical reports.”

He confirmed that “corruption in this file is protected by the ruling party, which is the main sponsor of corruption. There are a number of employees who appear on the front line, but they are backed by senior figures and receive the money generated from corruption and forgery.”

On March 25, 2024, the Martyrs Foundation halted financial waste amounting to more than one trillion dinars in the Department of Victims of Terrorism in Anbar Province, revealing that it is currently auditing 22,000 cases that were suspended as a precaution.

Dangerous corruption network and influential party

Tariq al-Dulaimi, a member of the United Anbar Alliance, said that “the issue of ISIS members receiving salaries through the Martyrs Foundation is one of the most dangerous corruption files, and it amounts to a major scandal.”

He explained to The New Region that “this case is not new. It is the natural result of a group of corrupt employees linked to the ruling party, which manages this corruption and the squandering of public funds.”

Dulaimi revealed that more than 2,000 ISIS members falsified their files and medical reports to be classified as martyrs of military operations or as victims of ISIS, allowing their families to receive pensions.

He added that “the cost of processing one case reached $50,000. A dangerous corruption network was running the file, including the office director of one of the influential political parties controlling Anbar Province.”

He pointed out that “hundreds of victims of terrorism, both killed and wounded, still have not had their files completed, while terrorists who fought with ISIS have families receiving pensions, land plots, and other privileges.”

Dulaimi stressed that anti-corruption measures are very weak, and the Iraqi government shows leniency for political purposes. What should have happened is the continued pursuit of corrupt actors and reaching the senior figures responsible for this file.

The National Security Service had previously announced that it uncovered a corruption network involving fraud and embezzlement of funds meant for ISIS victims in Anbar Province. The amount of money involved was estimated at about 1 trillion Iraqi dinars ($760 million). At the time, more than 30 suspects were arrested, including senior employees in several government bodies, such as pension funds and the Martyrs Foundation. The case also included issuing fake ID cards, falsified credit card records, and the trading of classified data.

Villas abroad

Activist Bilal al-Jumaili said that “the corruption file in the Martyrs and Compensation Directorate requires the formation of an investigative committee that can do its work without favoritism and take charge of exposing the corrupt.”

He explained to The New Region that “hundreds of employees in the health, compensation, and pension departments have bought villas abroad. Some managed to smuggle billions of dinars they gained from forged cases. A large portion of this money also goes to finance the ruling party in Anbar.”

Jumaili added that “there are people still alive in Anbar who are receiving pensions as if they were martyrs, after forging death certificates. This is a major disaster that insults state institutions. The corruption network responsible for this must be held accountable, and not just low-level employees.”

In 2023, the Higher Anti-Corruption Committee and the Integrity Commission moved to Anbar Province, reopening all files of the Martyrs Foundation, the Compensation Directorate, and the Pension Directorate. Thousands of cases of financial corruption were uncovered, and dozens of general directors, department heads, and employees were referred to trial for involvement in embezzlement and fraud.

Guarantees to prevent forgery

Adnan al-Kubaisi, a member of the Anbar Provincial Council, proposed a solution to end corruption in the Martyrs and Compensation Directorate.

He told The New Region that “the solution is to adopt a guarantor system for applicants. If there is any flaw or forgery in the case, the guarantor bears full legal responsibility. This way, collective punishment, such as halting all cases and stopping payments, would no longer be necessary.”

He acknowledged that “yes, there is corruption, and some employees abused their positions, aided forgery, and broke the law. But now there is new oversight. These fraudulent cases involving ISIS members may have happened in the early years after the province’s liberation, but today it is impossible.”

Earlier, Anbar Operations Commander Lt. Gen. Nasser al-Ghannam revealed that thousands of forged cases were found in the Anbar Martyrs Foundation, including files for terrorists and suicide bombers who fought security forces. He confirmed that “senior officers are also implicated in this case.”