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Rudaw Net
a day ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq says nearly 8,000 prisoners released under general amnesty law
Also in Iraq Iraq, Kurdish forces capture nearly a dozen ISIS suspects in joint ops Grid collapse causes widespread power outage across Iraq Kirkuk landowners face arrests, lawsuits despite land restitution law Iraqi top court to hear case against Kurdistan electricity prices A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's justice ministry said on Tuesday that nearly 8,000 inmates across the country have been released under the general amnesty law, which took effect in mid-February. 'The total number of inmates released under the general amnesty law, since its implementation, until today, has reached 7,995 inmates across all correctional departments in Iraq,' state media said, citing a justice ministry statement. Passed in February, the law amended the 2016 law's interpretation of affiliation with terrorist organizations, and was pushed by Sunni Arab lawmakers. The amendment was a key prerequisite for Sunni blocs to agree to join the ruling State Administration Coalition, which was formed in September 2022 and backed Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani into office. The ministry asserted that it will 'continue to follow up on the implementation of the law with transparency and accuracy,' adding that the released prisoners included male and female inmates. The law went into effect alongside two other controversial laws demanded by Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers – the personal status and land restitution laws, respectively. The Islamic State (ISIS) seized vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. During the liberation battles, thousands were arrested for suspected ISIS links, particularly in Sunni-majority provinces, like Anbar, Nineveh, and Salahaddin provinces. According to the 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.
Shafaq News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Sadr resists outreach as Iraqi elections near
Shafaq News – Baghdad Prominent Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr remains committed to boycotting Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections, a source within the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF) revealed on Thursday. Despite "discreet" efforts by rival Ammar al-Hakim to engage him in dialogue, "all communication channels remain closed, making contact with al-Sadr extremely difficult," the source told Shafaq News. That position, however, could shift, according to the source. If al-Sadr's demands are accepted by the CF and the State Administration Coalition*, the Independent High Electoral Commission may be asked to reopen registration for his movement's candidates. Meanwhile, political analyst Atheer al-Sharaa told Shafaq News that al-Sadr's recent publication of documents from his former alliance with Masoud Barzani and Mohammed al-Halbousi signals 'an outright rejection' of renewed consensus politics. One of his core demands, al-Sharaa explained, is the full disarmament of all factions—including his own Saraya al-Salam—a condition several armed groups have already rejected. Even if the Patriotic Shiite Movement returns to the race, a repeat of the 2021 scenario—when it won the most seats then withdrew—is unlikely. 'They won't risk [public unrest] with another exit unless they secure clear, binding guarantees from all parties,' al-Sharaa said. For now, al-Sadr continues to publicly reaffirm his boycott, despite mounting political pressure. His return, if it happens, could delay the election by up to a year. — مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) July 9, 2025 * The CF, currently the ruling alliance, includes powerful factions such as Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law, Hadi al-Amiri's Fatah Alliance, al-Hakim's National Wisdom Movement, and other groups associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, while the State Administration Coalition brings together Sunni and Kurdish parties like Mohammed al-Halbousi's Taqaddum and Leader Masoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Shafaq News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Turkmen Front urges al-Sudani to reshape Kirkuk government
Shafaq News – Kirkuk On Wednesday, the Turkmen Front urged the Iraqi government to oversee a reshuffle of Kirkuk's local government to secure Turkmen participation in the province's administration. Front leader Mohammad Samaan Agha referenced recent talks within the State Administration Coalition (SAC)—a ruling alliance of major Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish parties—stressing the need to reinforce national unity and calling for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's direct involvement in crafting a new power-sharing arrangement. 'Achieving ethnic balance across all institutions—security, service, and administrative—is essential to reflect Kirkuk's diverse identity and ensure genuine partnership among its communities,' he clarified. Kirkuk, rich in oil resources and long disputed, remains a flashpoint among Iraq's three main ethnic groups—Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen, who number between 2 and 3 million.
Shafaq News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's President rejects judicial intervention on court rulings
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid rejected a proposal by the State Administration Coalition (SAC)—an alliance of major Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish parties—to hold a legal consultation on recent conflicting rulings issued by the Federal Supreme Court and the Court of Cassation. In a letter, Rashid warned that convening such a meeting would undermine the judiciary's independence, emphasizing that involving legal and constitutional experts could open the door to external interference. He recommended referring the matter to the Supreme Judicial Council instead. This objection comes amid rising tension within Iraq's highest judicial body, when nine judges—six permanent and three reserve—stepped down under external pressure, accusing certain government actors of attempting to influence the court for political purposes.
Shafaq News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Nasr warns: Iraq's political map hinges on November elections
Shafaq News/ The upcoming parliamentary elections will be the key determinant of Iraq's next government and the fate of the State Administration Coalition (SAC), al-Nasr Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, said on Sunday. Coalition spokesperson Salam al-Zubaidi told Shafaq News that speculation about the shape of the next cabinet is premature and should be left to the post-election landscape. 'Everything depends on what the ballot boxes yield. Current discussions are purely personal opinions, as no such proposals have been formally addressed within the Coordination Framework's meetings,' he said. Al-Zubaidi emphasized that the structure of Iraq's future government will be shaped by voter turnout and how political leaders form alliances after results are in. 'The current SAC is not a traditional political alliance but rather a coordination body established amid the vacuum created by the Sadrist withdrawal,' he noted, adding that the upcoming vote could either dissolve or reconfigure the coalition. He warned that low voter turnout could lead to the continued dominance of powerful blocs, keeping the political status quo intact. 'But if emerging or independent forces win enough seats, the landscape could change significantly,' he said. Iraq is preparing for legislative elections scheduled for November 11, 2025, with political parties launching preparations as early as April. According to Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), 106 political parties and 10 independent lists have registered interest in participating, alongside nine political coalitions, with one newly approved so far.
