40K+ prisoners freed under Iraq’s Amnesty Law

2026-01-05T11:33:02+00:00

Shafaq News– Baghdad

Iraq has released 40,275 inmates under the amended General Amnesty Law, according to the Supreme Judicial Council’s latest statistical report for December.

In a statement, the Council confirmed that since the law was enforced, 162,084 individuals faced arrest warrants, summons orders, or in-absentia sentences. Courts, it added, recovered 86.5 billion Iraqi dinars (about $65.7 million).

Originally enacted in 2016 and revised in early 2025, the General Amnesty Law was expanded to ease prison overcrowding, resolve longstanding cases, and encourage financial settlements. It excludes terrorism-related killings, violent offenses, and major drug trafficking, while offering relief for minor crimes, financial disputes, and procedural violations.