Baghdad Rewells: Over 19k Prisoners Set Free under New Amnesty Act!
ISIL/ISIS in Iraq releases over 19,000 prisoners under a new amnesty, among whom are former ISI officials. Prisons were reported to be nearly burdened twice their capacity just this month.
Kick back and read on: Iraq has swung open the prison doors for more than 19,000 inmates, as the government eases the strain on its overworked penitentiary system. Among those freed are former members of ISIL (ISIS)!
Catch a glimpse of the latest: Judicial authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the move extends legal reprieves to convicted terrorists, and even grants a halt to executions for ex-ISIL members. In 2014, this barbaric group seized control of roughly a third of Iraqi territory, murdering, displacing, and decimating whole communities.
Stay in the loop: This amnesty law, enacted back in January, offers some prisoners a chance to seek release, a retrial, or have their cases dismissed. However, it excludes those found guilty of extremism-linked killings. The law has been warmly received by Sunni lawmakers, who have long contended that anti-terrorism laws unfairly targeted their communities.
Don't miss out: Prisoners will now have the right to request retrials if they claim their confessions were coerced or obtained through torture while in custody. In a recent meeting led by Supreme Judicial Council President Faeq Zeidan, officials shared that 19,381 prisoners were set free from January to April.
Keep 'em coming, stay informed:
The total number of individuals reaping the benefits of this law - including those granted bail, sentenced in absentia, and having their arrest warrants lifted - stands at a whopping 93,597[3]. The reforms are part of a larger push to relieve Iraq's ailing penitentiary system, which currently holds around 65,000 inmates in facilities designed for only half that number[3].
Raise your eyebrows: The released inmates are not all war criminals – some have been convicted of nonviolent offenses such as corruption, theft, and drug use. Iraq has faced widespread criticism for its use of capital punishment. Rights groups have derided mass executions and less-than-transparent legal processes, including carrying out death sentences without informing prisoners' families or legal counsel[3].
Don't call it a comeback: Last month, Amnesty International expressed worry over at least 13 men who were executed in Nasiriya Central Prison following convictions on vague terrorism charges[3]. Stay with us, and we'll keep you posted on all the latest.
Sources: [1] Al Jazeera; [2] Reuters; [3] Amnesty International
- The amnesty law in Iraq, which has freed over 19,000 prisoners, includes convicted terrorists from groups like ISIL and grants a halt to executions for ex-terrorists, leading to breaking news regarding war-and-conflicts and terrorism.
- Although some of the released prisoners have been convicted of nonviolent offenses like corruption, theft, and drug use, the use of capital punishment in Iraq has been a topic of criticism, raising concerns about less-than-transparent legal processes and mass executions.
- The total number of beneficiaries of this amnesty law is significant, with around 93,600 individuals being granted bail, sentenced in absentia, or having their arrest warrants lifted, making it a major event in general-news and politics.
- This wave of prisoner releases comes after concerns were raised by rights groups about individuals being executed in Iraq, particularly in Nasiriya Central Prison, highlighting the ongoing issues of crime-and-justice and human rights that need to be addressed.
