Latest news with #AhmedLaibi
Rudaw Net
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq apprehends two escaped prisoners
Also in Iraq Kirkuk Provincial Council has not sat for 3 months Iraq completes seismic surveys at Khanaqin oil field Baghdad moves to curb Iranian opposition groups in Kurdistan: Iran media New Iraqi customs rules snarl Duhok trade route A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two prisoners who escaped from Hilla prison in Iraq's Babil province have been caught and authorities are questioning prison staff. The two inmates escaped from the central prison in Hilla on Friday afternoon. 'Following intense pursuit, both escaped inmates were apprehended. One had been convicted of theft and the other for drug-related offenses,' Ahmed Laibi told Rudaw on Saturday. 'Immediately after the escape, Justice Minister Khalid Shwani ordered the arrest of all prison officials involved and launched a full operation,' he added. The prison director, his deputy, and relevant staff have been referred to an investigative committee. The minister held a joint press conference with the governor where he said that security forces had apprehended the fugitives quickly. He also said that, under directive of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, a joint committee from the interior and justice ministries was formed to investigate the details of the incident. 'The initial findings have revealed serious breaches, and further information will be announced,' said Shwani. According to justice ministry statistics, there are 30 prisons in Iraq with some 67,000 inmates, 1,600 of whom are foreigners. This number excludes the Kurdistan Region's prisons and those held by security forces and different armed groups across the country.
Rudaw Net
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq releases 2,500 prisoners under general amnesty law
Also in Iraq Yazidi women abroad testify online to receive government support Iraq to 'make every effort' to resume Kurdish oil exports: FM Iraq's top court to rule on PM, President appeal to reinstate maritime deal with Kuwait Iraq 'temporarily' bans work entry for Syrians, four South Asian nationalities A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than 2,500 prisoners have been released across the country under the general amnesty law, Iraq's justice ministry said on Thursday. 'The general amnesty process continues and as of today more than 2,500 prisoners have been released within the framework of the law,' Ahmed Laibi, spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Justice, told Rudaw. 'According to our capacity, we are making every effort to release all those covered by the law within a specified period,' he added. In early April, Iraq announced that 1,000 prisoners had been released. The general amnesty law, passed in January, was submitted by Sunni lawmakers and includes amending the definition of affiliation with terrorist organizations. This change was a key prerequisite for Sunni blocs to agree to join the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned in Shiite-dominated Iraq since 2003 over alleged terrorism links, including ties to the Islamic State (ISIS). The law went into effect in mid-February after it was published in the Official Gazette of Iraq. It was one of three controversial laws passed together. The other two were changes to the personal status law backed by Shiites and a land restitution law backed by Kurds. According to justice ministry statistics, there are 30 prisons in Iraq with some 67,000 inmates, 1,600 of whom are foreigners. This number excludes the Kurdistan Region's prisons and those held by security forces and different armed groups across the country. Malik Mohammed contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq starts releasing prisoners per general amnesty law: Ministry
Also in Iraq US urges Iraq to utilize Kurdistan Region's gas after waiver expiry US rescinds Iraq waiver allowing gas imports from Iran Two Shiite parties boycott Iraqi parliament over PMF law Iraq continues to import Iranian gas despite expired US waiver A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's justice ministry said on Sunday it has begun releasing some of the 67,000 detainees in Iraqi prisons after a recently passed general amnesty law entered implementation. Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi told Rudaw that the general amnesty law's implementation has resulted in the release of a number of prisoners. A total of 1,600 foreign prisoners are also present in Iraq, according to Laibi, who added that the ministry operates 30 prisons across the country. The number excludes the Kurdistan Region's prisons and those held by security forces and different armed groups around the country. Laibi said that the release of prisoners is not under their jurisdiction but rather the Supreme Judicial Council's. The general amnesty, submitted by Sunni lawmakers, amended the 2016 law's definition of affiliation with terrorist organizations. This change was a key prerequisite for Sunni blocs to agree to join the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned in Shiite-dominated Iraq since 2003 over alleged terrorism links. In mid February, the controversial law went into effect after being published in the Official Gazette of Iraq, along with two other controversial laws demanded by Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers - the personal status and land restitution laws, respectively. The Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. During the liberation process, thousands of people were arrested for alleged links to the jihadist group, especially in Sunni areas like Nineveh province.
Rudaw Net
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Sunni party urges amnesty for prisoners in KRG-run prisons in Kirkuk
Also in Iraq Landmine blast kills three family members in Basra Iraq to repatriate 155 families from al-Hol: Monitor Iraqi justice ministry says holding 65,000 prisoners Several ISIS suspects arrested in Kirkuk A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Sunni Azm Alliance on Sunday called for the inclusion of prisoners held in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-administered prisons in Kirkuk under the recently passed general amnesty law. 'A large number of our [Sunni Arab] prisoners are in jails run by the KRG in Kirkuk,' spokesperson of the Azm alliance in Kirkuk told Rudaw. Azzam al-Hamadani added that the general amnesty law should apply to these prisoners, whom he alleged were in the 'thousands.' The Iraqi justice ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi told Rudaw on Sunday, that apart from those in the Kurdistan Region, there are 65,000 prisoners in Iraq's jails. He added that Baghdad is preparing to implement the general amnesty law upon its publishing in the Official Gazette. The general amnesty, introduced by Sunni lawmakers in the Iraqi legislature, amends the 2016 law's interpretation of affiliation with terrorist organizations. The amendment was a top prerequisite for Sunni blocs to join the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned since 2003 in Shiite-dominated Iraq, over alleged terrorism links. However, the amnesty law has emerged as a topic of dispute between the country's top judicial authorities in recent days. The Federal Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the law after several legislators questioned the validity of the vote that passed it. The Supreme Judicial Council criticized the top court's decision as premature. Hamadani urged the Supreme Judicial Council to form a committee to investigate the fate of detainees and missing persons and called on the KRG to assist in the investigations. He suggested that a committee between Baghdad and Erbil be established to resolve the issue. The Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. During the battles for liberation, widespread arrests - particularly in Sunni-majority provinces like Anbar, Nineveh, and Saladin - with many accused of links to the jihadist group. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi justice ministry says holding 65,000 prisoners
Also in Iraq Iraq to repatriate 155 families from al-Hol: Monitor Several ISIS suspects arrested in Kirkuk US terror labels on Iraqi armed groups would cause 'chaos': Sources Iraq says three ISIS leaders killed in airstrike A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's justice ministry on Sunday said it is holding 65,000 prisoners across the country, excluding the Kurdistan Region and detainees held by security forces. 'There are 65,000 prisoners in Iraqi prisons,' ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi told Rudaw, adding that 85 children are also being held alongside their mothers in prison. A total of 1,600 foreign prisoners are also present in Iraq, according to Laibi, who added that the ministry operates 30 prisons across the country. The number excludes the Kurdistan Region's prisons and those held by security forces and different armed groups around the country. Iraq is preparing to free many prisoners under a general amnesty law, which Laibi said the ministry will exercise once it is published in the Official Gazette. The general amnesty, submitted by Sunni lawmakers, amended the 2016 law's definition of affiliation with terrorist organizations. This change was a key prerequisite for Sunni blocs to agree to join the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned in Shiite-dominated Iraq since 2003 over alleged terrorism links. But the law is also caught amid a judicial row between Iraq's top judicial authorities – the Federal Supreme Court and the Supreme Judicial Council. On Tuesday, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court temporarily suspended the implementation of the general amnesty law and two other laws concerning personal status and the return of land confiscated under the former Baath regime to its original owners. The Supreme Judicial Council criticized the court's decision the next day as 'premature and irrelevant.' The three laws have created controversy since they were introduced in the parliament last year. After months of political bickering, the parliament passed all three in a surprise move on January 21. The Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. During the liberation process, thousands of people were arrested for alleged links to the jihadist group, especially in Sunni areas like Nineveh province. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
