Latest news with #Laibi
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
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.
