Iraq frees over 19,000 prisoners under new amnesty

Iraq has released over 19,000 prisoners under a new amnesty law aimed at easing overcrowding in its prisons, including some convicted of terrorism-related offenses. The law, passed in January, halts executions and allows retrials for those who claim confessions were obtained under torture. While excluding those convicted of extremist killings, it has been supported by Sunni lawmakers who argue anti-terror laws disproportionately targeted their communities. Since January, nearly 94,000 people have benefited from the reforms, as Iraq’s prison population continues to exceed capacity, Al‑Jazeera has reported. Rights groups have criticized the country’s death penalty practices and opaque legal system.