Iraq MPs reject Saudi prisoner exchange deal

Manama: The Iraqi parliament has rejected the ratification of an agreement with Saudi Arabia for the exchange of prisoners, citing “security and political reasons”. However, Iraqi lawmakers ratified a similar agreement with Iran.

Riyadh and Baghdad last year signed the accord on the transfer of sentenced prisoners, but the last stage of the implementation needed the approval of the Iraqi parliament.

Iraqi MPs on Tuesday said that they could not endorse the agreement “as the current security and political situation in Iraq could not tolerate the release of terrorists.”

According to some lawmakers, the Saudi prisoners held in Iraqi prisons were dangerous terrorists who should not be set free. While the Iraqi inmates in Saudi Arabia were commoners who were arrested just for crossing the border, Iraqi and Saudi reports said.

Under the agreement, Iraq would transfer Saudi prisoners to the Kurdistan region to allow meetings with their families, the reports added.

Iraqi officials have often claimed that they needed to see better cooperation with the Saudi authorities on the security issue.

Riyadh has regularly warned its citizens against joining groups involved in the largely sectarian fights in Iraq.