Iraq’s interior ministry denies authenticity of video claiming secret prison in Jurf Al-Nasr

BABIL — Iraq’s Ministry of Interior on Monday denied the authenticity of a video circulating on social media that claimed to show a secret prison holding thousands of detainees in Jurf Al-Nasr, Babil governorate, stating the footage is old and belongs to another country.

The video, widely shared online, was captioned with allegations that it depicted “scenes from a secret prison holding thousands of Sunni elders and youths in Jurf Al-Sakhar [also known as Jurf Al-Nasr], Babil governorate, detained by Iran-backed Shiite militias on the charge of being Sunni.”

In a statement, the ministry said, “The Anti-Rumor Department denies the validity of the news circulating about the existence of a secret prison holding thousands of detainees in Jurf Al-Nasr in Babil governorate.”

Murad Al-Saadi, director of the ministry’s media office, said, “Correctional institutions in Iraq are witnessing remarkable development in infrastructure and the services provided, with a continuous decrease in overcrowding rates.”

The ministry clarified that “the circulated clip is old and pertains to another country and has no connection whatsoever to the official prisons in Iraq.”

The Anti-Rumor Department emphasized “the importance of relying on official sources for obtaining information” and warned against “being dragged behind rumors and misleading news.”

This is not the first time the video has circulated. In 2022, it was shared under the same caption and was denied by authorities. In 2017, it appeared again with claims it showed “video from an Iraqi prison showing young men accused of alcohol and drug use in Basra,” which was also denied by officials.