The Zioneer reports that Binyamin (Ben) Hassin, an Israeli citizen born in Iraqi Kurdistan, was released today after more than a decade in Iraqi prison. Hassin was sentenced to death in 2020 but the penalty was commuted after a sulha (reconciliation) reached in November 2025 with the driver's family, who received a $250,000 payment. He is expected to arrive in Israel soon.
Binyamin (Ben) Hassin, an Israeli citizen born in Iraqi Kurdistan, was released from an Iraqi prison Wednesday after more than a decade behind bars, during which he was sentenced to death. The Zioneer first reported at 16:06 Jerusalem that an Israeli citizen had been freed, and subsequently identified the inmate as a Jewish man saved from execution. This update provides full details of Hassin's identity and circumstances.
Hassin, who moved to Israel as a child, returned to Iraqi Kurdistan in 2014 to visit his grandparents. During the war against ISIS, he joined Kurdish forces. In 2015, while riding in a taxi, the driver allegedly heard Hassin speaking Hebrew and threatened to hand him over to ISIS. A struggle ensued; the driver was injured and later died. Hassin was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging in 2020.
After a prolonged campaign, a sulha (reconciliation) was reached in November 2025 with the driver's family. Approximately $250,000 raised from donations was paid, and the family granted forgiveness, leading to the cancellation of the death sentence. Hassin was released Wednesday and is expected to arrive in Israel in the coming days.
The case had drawn attention from Israeli officials and human rights organizations. As The Zioneer reported earlier in the thread, the inmate was saved from execution prior to his release. The exact timeline of Hassin's arrival in Israel remains unannounced.
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