Iraqi Ministry of Justice Reveals Nationalities of IS Detainees Transferred from Syria

Reuters

Transfer of IS detainees from Syria to Iraq

The Iraqi Ministry of Justice has disclosed the nationalities of the Islamic State (IS) detainees transferred from Syria to Iraq following the completion of a U.S.-led transfer operation.

Iraq's state media (INA) quoted Ministry of Justice spokesman Ahmed Laibi as stating that the total number of detainees stands at 5,703 from 61 countries, of whom, 4,253 are Arabs and 983 are non-Arab foreign nationals. He noted that 467 are Iraqi citizens, while 3,543 are Syrians.

Laibi explained that facilities at Karkh Central Prison have been renovated and that the detainees have been classified using a database provided to Iraq by the Global Coalition against IS, which includes Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, India, Australia, Belgium, Georgia and Denmark.

He added that the largest numbers of detainees came from Morocco (187), Turkmenistan (165), Türkiye (181), Tunisia (234), Russia (130) and Egypt (116).

According to Laibi, the Iraqi National Security Council, at the request of the global coalition, decided to receive IS detainees through the Anti-Terrorism Service at Martyr Muhammad Alaa Air Base and via the Rabia border crossing under the supervision of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

He further stated that a committee headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Intelligence Affairs, alongside representatives from the Intelligence Service and National Security, is overseeing the process, in addition to judicial committees responsible for issuing rulings.

Laibi clarified that the Ministry of Justice serves as the detaining authority and that, following judicial rulings, memoranda of cooperation may be concluded through the relevant leadership channels, based on reciprocity and in line with Iraq’s supreme national interest.

Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command announced on Friday the completion of the 23-day operation to transfer IS members from Syria to Iraq. The operation, which began on 21 January, resulted in the transfer of more than 5,700 ISIS detainees from Syrian detention facilities to Iraqi authorities.

The National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation confirmed that the total number of transferred IS members reached 5,704, representing 61 different nationalities.



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