Moroccan families press for faster transfer of prisoners from Iraq

Tuesday 09 June 2026 - 13:23

By: Dakir Madiha

Moroccan families press for faster transfer of prisoners from Iraq

Families of Moroccan prisoners held in Iraq are urging authorities to speed up the implementation of a prisoner transfer agreement signed between Rabat and Baghdad nearly a year ago. Relatives say the prolonged delay is worsening humanitarian and health concerns for inmates who have spent years behind bars.

The agreement, signed in August by Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and Iraqi Justice Minister Khaled Shwani, was intended to facilitate the transfer of nine Moroccan prisoners, including two women. The arrangement also covered certain family members and children, allowing eligible detainees to serve the remainder of their sentences in Morocco under legal cooperation mechanisms established between the two countries.

Despite the deal, families and representatives of the detainees say no concrete progress has been made. The lack of movement has renewed concerns over the conditions faced by prisoners, many of whom have spent long periods in detention. Relatives argue that continued delays are deepening the psychological burden on inmates and their families.

Abdellaziz Bekkali, coordinator of the group representing Moroccan detainees and missing persons in Iraq, said prisoners remain in regular contact with relatives and frequently express anxiety over the uncertainty surrounding their cases. According to the coordination body, some detainees have been imprisoned for more than two decades, making the issue increasingly urgent.

Families also report growing concern about the health of several prisoners. They say advancing age and chronic illnesses have complicated medical care for some inmates. Particular attention has focused on Moroccan prisoners Leila Al-Qassimi and Ibtissam Al-Houzi, who are being held at Baghdad's Rassafa prison. Their relatives describe their health conditions as deteriorating and increasingly alarming.

The families are calling on both Moroccan and Iraqi authorities to accelerate the procedures needed to enforce the transfer agreement. They view the matter as a humanitarian priority and argue that further delays could have serious consequences for vulnerable detainees.

For relatives, the transfer process would provide prisoners with an opportunity to complete their sentences closer to their families and within a prison system in their home country. They believe such a move would help ease years of hardship and bring long-awaited relief to those affected by the case.