Inmates at Najaf Central Prison take part in a vocational training workshop on electrical and appliance repair inside the newly opened rehabilitation complex.
Najaf prison opens vocational complex to support inmate rehabilitation
NAJAF — The Ministry of Justice on Saturday inaugurated what it described as Iraq’s largest complex of vocational rehabilitation workshops at Najaf Central Prison, aiming to support reintegration and improve conditions in line with international human rights standards.
The facility was launched under the direction of Justice Minister Khalid Shwani, with ministry spokesperson Murad al-Saadi and prison director Dr. Salam Kazem al-Amri attending the opening. The ministry said the workshops are “now in service according to the latest global human rights standards.”
The complex includes tailoring, blacksmithing, electrical maintenance, and barbering workshops, as well as sports halls, art and painting classrooms, a greenhouse for rare plants, a bird sanctuary, animal care areas, and a central library. Officials said the programs are designed to provide “a comprehensive rehabilitative environment that supports inmates’ psychological and behavioral well-being.”
Al-Amri said, “This project represents a qualitative shift in the field of reform programs, as it was designed to provide an environment that respects international standards and gives inmates a real opportunity to acquire practical skills that help them build a better future after serving their sentences.”
Al-Saadi added that the initiative is part of a wider reform program. “The ministry is determined to implement its reform project aimed at transforming prisons into environments of genuine rehabilitation, which will enhance human rights protections and contribute to strengthening community security,” he said.
In May, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called for prisons to serve as centers of rehabilitation rather than confinement, urging reduced overcrowding and expanded education programs. Rights groups have long criticized Iraq’s prison system for poor conditions, with nearly 70,000 inmates held in fewer than 30 facilities. Shwani has pledged that overcrowding will be addressed by 2026.
