BAGHDAD: An Iraqi criminal court yesterday sentenced to death 15 Turkish women after finding them guilty of belonging to the Islamic State group, a judicial official, said reports AFP.

Another Turkish woman accused of membership of the jihadist group was given a life sentence, the official said, adding they had all acknowledged the charges against them.

Iraq, which has detained at least 560 women, as well as 600 children, identified as jihadist or relatives of suspected IS fighters, is wasting no time in putting them on trial.

In January, a court sentenced a German woman to death on charges of providing logistical support to IS, and a Turkish woman was earlier this month also handed the death penalty.

Human Rights Watch denounced the rulings as “unfair”.

Earlier this week, a Baghdad court sentenced a French woman, Melina Boughedir, to seven months in jail for entering Iraq illegally but ordered her release on time already served.

Meanwhile, Iraq is denying relatives of suspected Islamic State group jihadists security clearance to obtain identity cards, in what amounts to a form of “collective punishment”, Human Rights Watch said yesterday, reports AFP.

“Iraqi security officers are routinely denying relatives of suspected Islamic State (IS) members the security clearance needed to obtain identity cards and other documents, “ HRW said.

“Denying government benefits because of perceived family relationships instead of individual security determinations is a form of collective punishment prohibited under international human rights law.”

The New York-based rights watchdog said in a statement that without proper documentation these individuals cannot move freely in fear of arrest, nor can they apply for jobs or welfare benefits.