MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.343.8790

Jul 9, 2008
Press Release 080709

Coalition releases more detainees by July 2008 than were released for all of 2007

BAGHDAD – Task Force 134 Detainee Operations has released more detainees in the first seven months of 2008 than were released in all of 2007.  As of July 7, Task Force 134 had returned 9,047 persons to Iraqi society, compared with the 8,956 who left detention in calendar year 2007. 

“We are committed to transitioning the security detainees back into society once they have been determined not to be a threat to Coalition forces or the people of Iraq,” said Brig. Gen. Robert Hipwell, commander of the 300th Military Police Brigade, the unit responsible for oversight of detainee releases in Iraq.  “Every day we work with the detainees, the units in the field who detained them, and the government of Iraq to return the right detainees to their homes and families, while continuing to detain those individuals who wish to cause harm to their country.”

In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Coalition forces hold a steadily decreasing number of individuals determined to be security threats.  They are provided standards of care and custody that exceed Geneva Convention requirements, including culturally appropriate food, medical care in Coalition facilities, opportunities to worship, and visitation with their family, including video tele-conferences when distance makes it impractical for a family to visit in person.  Units in charge of detainee facilities run a holistic program of assessments to determine what caused the individual to be in detention and what can be done to ensure that he will not be recaptured if released. 

For example, assessments showed that some persons were committing acts such as emplacing Improvised Explosive Devices because insurgents offered them money.  Realizing that education empowers economic success --consequently empowering people to resist the insurgency-- Theater Internment Facilities at Camp Cropper and Camp Bucca provide vocational education and literacy programs.  Detainees have the opportunity to learn marketable skills such as tiling, masonry, textiles and wood-working.  They also attend classes in Arabic, math and civics that are certified by Iraq’s Ministry of Education, preparing them to further educate themselves upon reconciliation with their society. 

Of the nearly 20,000 detainees released since September 2007, less than one percent have re-entered the detention system. 

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