Skip to main content
The Web    CNN.com      Powered by
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SERVICES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SEARCH
Web CNN.com
powered by Yahoo!
World
Iraq Banner

Iraqi officials probe 'illegal jail'

Al-Sadr has widespread backing in the Shiite-dominated Sadr City.
Al-Sadr has widespread backing in the Shiite-dominated Sadr City.

Story Tools

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.

Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi Governing Council says it has asked authorities to investigate allegations an illegal prison is being run by a top Shiite cleric.

Moqtada al-Sadr is suspected of operating an unlawful prison in Iraq, said Safaa Al-Rasool, deputy of the Governing Council member Mowaffak al-Rubaie, who is a Shiite Muslim.

It is not clear when the request was made, but the justice and interior ministries were asked to investigate the matter.

Al-Rasool told CNN the law in Iraq allowed various Shiite clerics to have a court system that ran on the basis of their teachings and people were able to attend these courts if they chose.

But he said these Shiite groups were not authorized to operate their own prison. He said any case that might require imprisonment must be transferred to the Iraqi interior and justice ministries.

Al-Sadr, who has widespread backing in the Shiite-dominated Sadr City neighborhood of Baghdad and is associated with a militia, attempted to appoint an Islamic government to replace the Governing Council a few months ago.

There is a rumor circulating on the street that he has a prison. A Saudi-owned newspaper based in London also reported the allegation.

At a press conference Thursday, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the head of U.S. ground forces in Iraq, was asked about the same issue.

"If there are any courts operating outside of the law, they're at risk of being shut down," he said.

"If it is established that there is an illegal court then the Iraqi security forces assisted by coalition forces will take the appropriate action."


Story Tools
Subscribe to Time for $1.99 cover
Top Stories
Iran poll to go to run-off
Top Stories
CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards
 
 
 
 

International Edition
CNN TV CNN International Headline News Transcripts Advertise With Us About Us
SEARCH
   The Web    CNN.com     
Powered by
© 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.
external link
All external sites will open in a new browser.
CNN.com does not endorse external sites.
 Premium content icon Denotes premium content.
Add RSS headlines.