BAGHDAD - Almost 600 prisoners were released in Iraq on Wednesday, state television reported, a day after new Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki said a total of 2,500 would be freed to help foster national reconciliation. It was one of the biggest such releases of prisoners held in Iraqi or American detention since US-led forces invaded the country three years ago to topple Saddam Hussein.“I spent 16 months in jail without any specific reason. They only questioned me once, accusing me of funding terrorism,” said one of more than 100 people freed in Baghdad. He said he had been arrested by Iraqi forces and then handed over to the US-run Abu Ghraib prison. “I’m happy to return to my family,” added Youssef Khidr, 38, looking exhausted.
| Get a job, take care of your family, and don't let us think you're hanging with a bad element, 'k? |
| Never occurred to the reporter that freeing the people makes space for the real bad boyz, makes people breathe a little easier, and just might be the right thing to do. |
Maliki, who has pledged to heal sectarian wounds and crush the insurgency, said in a televised statement on Tuesday that the prisoner release would free those who had no clear evidence against them or had been detained mistakenly. Maliki had cited the release of those imprisoned without just cause as one of his priorities when his cabinet took office in May. Such detentions, by Iraqi and US security forces, have been a major source of popular discontent.
| Seems reasonable. |
A U.N. report last month said there were 28,700 detainees in Iraq, including 5,000 held by the Interior Ministry even though it should only detain people for short periods of time.