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Shafaq News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq addresses viral prison video: Old footage, new allegations
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Iraq's Justice Ministry dismissed viral footage showing inmate abuse inside Baghdad's al-Taji prison as 'outdated.' 'Disciplinary and legal measures were taken against both the inmates and staff involved,' ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi Abdul Hussein stated, adding that some individuals shown in the footage were released under Iraq's General Amnesty Law, which permits the conditional release of certain categories of prisoners. Officials linked the timing of the video's release to a recent attempt to smuggle narcotics into al-Taji prison. 'Most detainees at the facility are convicted drug traffickers,' the ministry noted, accusing unknown actors of attempting to discredit recent security operations. Iraq's correctional system has faced criticism from human rights groups over poor conditions and recurring abuse allegations. The Justice Network for Prisoners claims that over 80% of detention facilities are structurally unfit and frequently overcrowded, adding that Iraq's 31 prisons house over 65,000 inmates in facilities designed for half that number. Al-Taji prison, in particular, has been the subject of past abuse allegations. Testimonies from former inmates and NGO reports cite severe overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and mistreatment by guards. International observers, including the UN and Human Rights Watch, have urged Iraq to overhaul detention conditions, enforce accountability, and separate detainees based on charges to prevent further violations. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry reiterated its commitment to legal oversight and pledged to pursue disciplinary action against any violations within the country's prisons.
Rudaw Net
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iranian prisoners in Sulaimani sew mouths shut in protest demanding repatriation
Also in Kurdistan Striking teachers from Sulaimani blocked from protesting in Erbil Erbil shuts down two more illegal refineries Fresh mountain snow draws tourists to Duhok province Three Duhok villages abandoned due to Turkey-PKK clashes A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prisoners from Iran's western Kurdish regions (Rojhelat) in Sulaimani have been on a hunger strike for 9 days, demanding repatriation to Iran for trial. Fifteen individuals have been on hunger strike since February 1, a representative of the protesting prisoners in Sulaimani's Correctional Facility told Rudaw on condition of anonymity. 'Since yesterday, 8 of us have completely sewn their mouths shut and we will continue the hunger strike until our demands are met,' he said, highlighting that the health of most of the prisoners is deteriorating. 'From a humanitarian perspective, we sympathize with these prisoners, but from a legal standpoint, we don't, since some of these prisoners are being held for charges related to large amounts of drugs and should not be sent back,' head of Justice Network for Prisoners told Rudaw on Sunday. Shwan Sabir Gardi also warned that some of the prisoners could face the death penalty if they are sent back to Iran due to the severity of their charges. Amnesty International has repeatedly criticized Iran for executing a large number of individuals convicted of drug-related offenses. In June 2024, the human rights watchdog described Tehran's use of the death penalty for drug-related crimes as a 'deadly war on the poor.' The prisoners are requesting to be transferred to Iran due to financial hardship inside the prison. While they receive funds from their families in Iran, the amounts are minimal given the decline in the value of the Iranian rial. Gardi stressed that any retrial should be carried out 'within the framework of the law' and requires the detainees 'to present new and substantial evidence' to prove their innocence. The cases of these prisoners are currently being closely followed and actively addressed, said Ihsan Abdulrahman, head of the Correctional Facility told Rudaw. Soran Hussein contributed to this article.
