Iraq`s Human Rights Min: 3,322 MKO members imprisoned in Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Amman, Sept 30, IRNA -- Interim Iraqi government`s Human Rights 
Minister Bakhtiar Amin said here on Wednesday, "3,322 of the total 
9,877 inmates in Iraq`s various prisons are the Iranian outlawed 
group, MKO (terror organization) members." 
He did not mention the time, place, or reason why so many of the 
Iranian terror organization`s members are imprisoned in Iraq tough. 
The MKO that is responsible for killing of thousands of innocent 
Iranians established close ties with the former Iraqi despotic regime 
and took part in suppression of Iraqis` anti-Saddam moves dynamically 
for nearly two decades. 
The groups is still on the US and EU lists of terror organizations,
but the US occupiers of Iraq granted it supported status in July, 
2004 inside occupied Iraq. 
Amin also thanked the US administration for allocating a $6 
million assistance for renovation of Iraq`s notorious Abu Qraib 
Prison, expressing hope that the money would soon be deposited in 
Interim Iraqi government`s account. 
The Iraqi Human Rights minister who was speaking to the press at 
the end of a course offered by the United Nations Educational 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Iraqi children and 
youth in Jordan`s capital, Amman, added, "That prison is going to be 
allocated to inmates with chronic diseases, or physically disabled 
prisoners only." 
He said, "The Iraqi and US officials` efforts are aimed at wiping 
out the ugly image this prison has left on world and Iraqi public 
opinion." 
Bakhtiar Amin reiterated, "Abu Qraib Prison was once witness to 
torture of dozens of opponents of the former despotic Iraqi regime 
and after the US forces took over, unfortunately its negative 
reputation was not only not wiped, but also worsened." 
He added, "During last january and April alone, Abu Qraib Prison 
was targeted by 270 missiles shot by terrorists, during which 33 
inmates got killed and 150 others were wounded." 
He denied reports on presence of scores of Iraqi women in that 
prison, arguing, "Only two women, Hoda Ammash, and Ruhab Umar, are 
serving their terms at Abu Qraib Prison, who are both top officials 
of the former Iraqi regime." 
On occupation forces` activities in Iraq, Bakhtiar said, "The 
occupation forces enjoy full immunity in Iraq and the Iraqi interim 
govrnment officials, disciplinary forces, or judiciary officials 
cannot deal with their offenses, issue arrest warrants, or punish 
them." 
2329/1432
NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iraq`s Human Rights Min: 3,322 MKO members imprisoned in Iraq
