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CENTCOM Report, September 26: Abu Ghraib Releasing 1,000 Detainees

26 September 2005

Iraqi government, coalition forces take action with the approach of Ramadan

The Iraqi government and coalition forces have released 500 detainees from Abu Ghraib prison in advance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and they plan to release another 500 shortly.

The U.S. Central Command announced the release of the first group of detainees on September 26.

The individuals were set free following a special review that determined they had not carried out kidnappings, been responsible for murders, conducted torture, or detonated any bombs that would have harmed Iraqi security forces, Iraqi civilians or coalition forces.

The CENTCOM announcement described the two-phase release from the Iraqi prison as the largest so far and another milestone in Iraq’s march toward democratic governance and the pursuit of rule of law.

Those who are being released from prison are said to have renounced the use of violence and pledged to be model citizens in the future.

The Multi-National Force-Iraq, which conducts counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and works to train and equip Iraqi security forces, decided in conjunction with the Iraqi government to release the 1,000 detainees so they could be home in time for the beginning of Ramadan during the first week of October.

Once freed from prison, these men will be able “to help in the process of building a new Iraq,” according to the press release.  These newly freed individuals will be able to vote in the October 15 referendum on the draft Iraqi constitution.

The U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said September 26 that this latest release of prisoners follows on an earlier one in August in which almost 1,000 other Iraqis were set free.

“The approaching holy season is a time for Iraqi families to be together, and this large release of detainees is another step towards bringing the whole Iraqi family together in a country that is united, secure, prosperous and free,” Khalilzad said in a statement.

For additional information, see Iraq’s Political Process and Iraq Update.

More information about activities by the Multi-National Force-Iraq is available on its Web site.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)