By Mohammed al-Salehi
Azzaman, December 3, 2014
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi has ordered the release of detainees incarcerated without trial and any prisoner whom which courts could not find guilty.
Abadi’s order comes as part of his government’s measures to appease Iraqi Sunnis who felt marginalized during the eight-year rule of his processor Nouri al-Maliki.
The premier also ordered the salaries of his cabinet minister slashed by 50% with the start of the New Year in response to popular discontent with the skyrocketing salaries and lucrative perks senior government officials enjoy.
The ruling makes court orders compulsory for detention by Iraqi security forces and that no Iraqi should stay in prison more than six months without trial.
Under the new regulations, all detainees not found guilty by Iraqi courts should be set free within one month.
Abadi has taken several steps to address grievances of Iraqi Sunnis and Iraqi Kurds since assuming office in September.
He has been coordinating with Iraqi Sunni politicians and tribesmen, working hard to remove what they see as grievances of the previous government.
He has signed a temporary deal with Iraqi Kurds on oil exports, distribution of oil revenues and budgetary matters, prompting Kurdish leaders to declare their pleasure with the steps he has taken so far.
Abadi is keen to bring disparate Iraqi factions together in the fight against Islamic State militants who currently control large swathes in the north and west of Iraq.
