Over 100 Iraqis in Saudi Arabia’s prison: Iraqi Human Rights Commission member
A prison in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Twitter/@alialgofaily
BAGHDAD,— There are more than 100 Iraqis in Saudi Arabia’s prisons, a member of Iraqi Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said on Thursday.
Ali al-Bayati said in a statement that the Government of Iraq should investigate the issue in the framework of strengthening ties between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Bayati called on the Iraqi government to include in its talks with the Saudi Arabia the fate of the Iraqis being held Saudi prisons, while the two countries are engaged in negotiations re-establish and strengthen ties.
Bayati called on Baghdad to “include the portfolio of jailed Iraqis in Saudi Arabian prisons within the context of developing ties and cooperation between the two sides.”
“Official figures” place the number of Iraqis in Saudi prisons at more than 100, claimed al-Bayati.
“Most of them are accused of illegally crossing the border and selling goods on the border areas as they reside in villages close to the Iraqi-Saudi border,” added al-Bayati.
“International standards” stipulate that Iraq should find a way for imprisoned Iraqis to be in touch with their families especially through its embassy, he implored.
Bayati also called on Baghdad ask Riyadh to allow their commission to visit with the Iraqi inmates in the Saudi prisons.
“The commission’s member called for reopening the cases of exchanging prisoners sentenced with crimes other than terrorism between the two countries to finish their sentences in their home countries,” added the statement.
Riyadh has been wooing Baghdad as part of an effort to stem the growing regional influence of Iran, while Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with its southern neighbor.
In a recent move, state television cited the kingdom’s commerce minister as saying that Riyadh was giving Iraq $1 billion to rebuild a sports city, according to Reuters, and will seek permission to establish a number of consulates in the country.
Saudi Arabia has opened a consulate in Baghdad on Thursday for the first time in nearly 30 years in a sign of improving ties.
The consulate, which will issue visas to Iraqis, was opened during a two-day visit by a delegation headed by the Saudi minister of commerce and investment, Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi.
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