Detainees in Iraqi prisons and jails often go years without trial, face widespread torture and abuse, and have little access to their families or legal help, an international human rights group said Monday, according to the Associated Press. The report by Amnesty International raises disturbing questions about the future of Iraqi justice at a critical juncture ' after the U.S. military has handed over almost all prison responsibilities to Iraq's government.
About 30,000 detainees are currently in Iraqi custody, although the exact number has not been released, the report stated. Prisoners are often housed in crowded conditions, leading to health problems, and they sometimes go years without seeing the inside of a courtroom, Amnesty told AP.
"Iraq's security forces have been responsible for systematically violating detainees' rights," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Iraqi government officials could not be reached for comment.
According to Associated Press:
