Written question asked by Michael Connarty (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 March 2012. It was answered by Alistair Burt (Conservative) on Tuesday, 27 March 2012 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Iraq on the transparency and fairness of judicial processes in Iraq.

Answer: We continue to have serious concerns about the administration of justice and the rule of law in Iraq, including the issue of lengthy pre-trial detention. We have repeatedly called for the Iraqi Ministry of Justice to assume full control and authority over all detention facilities in Iraq, and for all those in detention to have access to legal counsel and the right to a fair trial. In 2011 we provided training on human rights for the police and judiciary in Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region, and contributed to a UN-led project to train human rights advocates in Kirkuk. We will continue to assist the Government of Iraq in improving the transparency and effectiveness of its judicial system.

Secondary information