Friday, June 22, 2007
Prisons raided by militias and prisoners executed
Security
(Dar Al Salam Newspaper) - 21 JUN - Iraqi security sources have confirmed that many prisons have been raided almost every night, by militias. The militias conduct these raids with the assistance of the prisons’ guards. Later, the militias execute the prisoners, and then, dump the bodies in city streets and squares.
The sources added that the majority of these “executed prisoners” are from prisons in Rasafa, which are controlled by militias and the government. The sources pointed out that Rasafa’s “Prison Number Six” is the worst and it experiences many “randomized” execution operations. The prisoners in this prison (Rasafa #6) have announced a hunger strike, they would rather die of hunger in their jail cells than be killed by militias.
The sources added that Rasafa “Prison Number Six” consists of 14 “halls” (large cells), which contain hundreds of prisoners in each of the “halls”. The prisoners have not been taken to court; and, some prisoners have been kidnapped and killed by MOI Commandos and militias. Rasafa’s “Prison Number Six” is one of 10 prisons in the Rasafa area, this includes such places as the: Jadriya, Qanat, and Tasfirat prisons which all belong to the MOI.
These prisons include “thousands and thousands of Iraqi prisoners” who are not allowed to see their families. The sources also confirmed that “arresting and releasing operations” are not being conducted in accordance with judicial orders; rather, they are being conducted in accordance with deals (between the) militias and police. Militias help some of the worst criminals to escape from the prisons without the government’s knowledge. And (somehow), the people who dump the bodies in the streets are usually able to move about during curfew hours.
The sources added that the majority of these “executed prisoners” are from prisons in Rasafa, which are controlled by militias and the government. The sources pointed out that Rasafa’s “Prison Number Six” is the worst and it experiences many “randomized” execution operations. The prisoners in this prison (Rasafa #6) have announced a hunger strike, they would rather die of hunger in their jail cells than be killed by militias.
The sources added that Rasafa “Prison Number Six” consists of 14 “halls” (large cells), which contain hundreds of prisoners in each of the “halls”. The prisoners have not been taken to court; and, some prisoners have been kidnapped and killed by MOI Commandos and militias. Rasafa’s “Prison Number Six” is one of 10 prisons in the Rasafa area, this includes such places as the: Jadriya, Qanat, and Tasfirat prisons which all belong to the MOI.
These prisons include “thousands and thousands of Iraqi prisoners” who are not allowed to see their families. The sources also confirmed that “arresting and releasing operations” are not being conducted in accordance with judicial orders; rather, they are being conducted in accordance with deals (between the) militias and police. Militias help some of the worst criminals to escape from the prisons without the government’s knowledge. And (somehow), the people who dump the bodies in the streets are usually able to move about during curfew hours.
COMMENT: Dar Al Salam is a weekly political and religious newspaper, owned by the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP). It has been published for two years in Baghdad, with a Sunni religious affiliation. This is a moderate newspaper advocating a political approach to deal with Iraq's situation, and has a positive attitude towards the political process in Iraq. Rasafa is the eastern part of Baghdad and is now predominantly Shia. The militias referred to in the article are Shia militias. The MOI commandos have been heavily infiltrated by Shia militias. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Jadriya, militias, Ministry of Interior, prisons, Qanat, Rasafa #6, Tasfirat prison
