ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq is set to establish central libraries in its prisons for detainees, in a move to enhance rehabilitation in the overcrowded and worn-out correctional facilities, the justice ministry said Wednesday.

The justice ministry said it has reached an agreement with the Iraqi Library Association that includes the “establishment of central libraries inside prisons, in addition to preparing special programs to train inmates on managing these libraries according to modern professional principles.” 

The initiative seeks to enhance the inmates’ organizational skills and institutional work, according to the ministry.  

“The content of these libraries will be carefully selected to be consistent with the approved training and rehabilitation programs within correctional institutions, including educational, cultural, professional, and awareness aspects, and to contribute to raising the cognitive level of inmates and enhancing their opportunities for positive integration after the end of their sentences,” it added.

Human rights groups have long raised concerns about prison conditions in Iraq, citing severe overcrowding, aging facilities, and weak oversight.

The justice ministry has previously complained that prison overcrowding has reached 300 percent of the actual capacity. In June, there were reportedly over 60,000 inmates across 30 Iraqi prisons. The capacity of the facilities is around 25,000.

The decision aims “to develop the reform environment and transform prisons into real rehabilitation centers that contribute to building the individual and society, in line with international human rights standards and best practices in the field of restorative justice,” the ministry said.

Treatment of prisoners in Iraq has long been under scrutiny by rights groups. 

The Iraqi Center for Documenting War Crimes said at least 50 detainees were tortured to death in prisons in the first four months of 2024, according to the US embassy in Baghdad’s 2024 human rights report released in August this year.

“The federal government and the KRG reported they took steps to address allegations of mistreatment in government-administered prison and detention facilities, including installing anonymous complaint boxes inside the prisons, but neither conducted investigations of credible allegations of mistreatment,” the US report read.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also said authorities threatened death row inmates and nongovernmental organizations for denouncing prison conditions.