Author: Ahmed Rasheed
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s parliament passed an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of thousands of prisoners, including Iraqis convicted of attacks on U.S. soldiers and people who fought for Islamic State, lawmakers said on Thursday.
A copy of the law seen by Reuters shows that those found guilty of terrorism resulting in killing or maiming, manslaughter, vandalizing government institutions and recruiting or joining terrorist organizations can request a retrial if they claim the confession was obtained under duress. .
Judicial sources and lawmakers confirmed that those convicted of attacks on US forces in Iraq could benefit from the law.
Sunni blocs in the Iraqi parliament are pushing for the bill because many of those in prison on such charges are Sunni Muslims, most convicted of being members of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State and carrying out attacks on Iraqi forces and civilians, mostly between 2004 and 2018. .
Sunni lawmakers estimate that at least 30,000 Sunni prisoners will have a chance at a retrial.
Judicial sources say around 700 members of the Shia militia are also in prison on terrorism charges, arrested by US forces between 2004 and 2008 for attacks on US soldiers.
Abul Karim al-Mohammedawi, the Shiite head of the parliament’s security and defense committee, said the bill’s top priority should be the release of detainees who fought against US forces in Iraq because “they are heroes and should be rewarded for their sacrifices, not left behind behind bars for the crime of defending his homeland”.
Sunni lawmaker Raad al-Dahlaki said: “This law will not lead to the immediate release of prisoners. We, the Sunni bloc in parliament, have demanded a retrial and review of all investigations of the prisoners, and the courts will decide their fate.”
The law applies to all convicted Iraqis and those accused of crimes that are still under investigation or trial. It also allows for the review of death sentences.
Government officials and judicial sources say the new law will ease pressure on overcrowded prisons, which currently house about 67,000 inmates, far exceeding their capacity of 25,000.
Tuesday’s session also adopted an amendment to Iraq’s personal status law, tabled by the majority Shiite blocs in parliament, that would allow Iraqi Muslims to choose either Sunni or Shiite Sharia law for personal status matters, rather than a single standard regardless of sect or religion. .
Critics say the amendments, which allow sectarian legal practice to govern personal matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance, could institutionalize legal divisions between Sunni and Shiite Iraqis, further entrenching sectarian divisions.
“This amendment could change the social fabric of the country at a time when sectarian tensions are high and stability is uncertain,” said Sarah Sanbar, Iraq researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Parliament also approved a law, which had come under pressure from the Kurds, allowing the return of agricultural land seized before 2003 to its original owners, mostly Kurds.
