ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Iraqi-American transgender woman found guilty of running an extortion and prostitution ring died in a Baghdad prison on Sunday, minutes before a scheduled court hearing, a spokesperson for the Iraqi justice ministry told Rudaw.
The woman, known as Juju, returned to Baghdad from the United States in May 2022 and was arrested on charges of running an extortion and prostitution network in Iraq. She was accused of blackmailing government officials, security officials, politicians, media personalities, and celebrities. Later that year, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison on three counts of prostitution and extortion.
Ahmad Luaibi, spokesperson for the justice ministry, told Rudaw that Juju was in bad health and died moments before the court was due to hear another case against her.
“Juju, who had been in poor health and mental condition for some time, had a court hearing today and was scheduled to be taken to court to be tried on another case,” Luaibi said.
“However, while preparing to be taken to court, she suddenly fell and died in a correctional prison in Baghdad,” he said.
There was speculation in the media about the cause of death. Some outlets say she died under mysterious circumstances and others reported she had a heart attack.
Luaibi said a coroner will determine the cause and that Justice Minister Khalid Shwani issued directives to form an investigative committee to look into her death.
