Iraq Releases 1,000 Inmates Under General Amnesty Law

As of Sunday, the Iraqi Ministry of Justice has announced the release of 1,000 inmates from prisons across the country, following the implementation of a general amnesty law that took effect in mid-February, Rudaw reported. This release is part of a broader initiative to review the legal status of prisoners, with the ministry confirming that the necessary legal procedures and final judicial rulings have been completed.

Currently, Iraq’s 30 prisons house approximately 67,000 inmates, including 1,600 foreigners. The process of releasing inmates is ongoing, but officials indicate that it may take additional time as cases are reviewed for any other charges.

The general amnesty law, which revises the interpretation of affiliations with terrorist organizations, was pushed by Sunni Arab lawmakers. They argue that many from their community have been unjustly imprisoned since 2003 over alleged terrorism links.

On Thursday, the ministry reported that hundreds of inmates are being released daily under this law. The controversial legislation was published in the Official Gazette of Iraq alongside two other laws, addressing personal status and land restitution, demanded by Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers.