MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
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Press Release A080107b
January 7, 2008

Minister of Human Rights Visits Camp Bucca

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, Wijdan Mikhail Salim, toured the Camp Bucca Coalition detention center in southern Iraq Jan. 3 to survey facilities and review programs for detainees.

Salim’s visit to Camp Bucca was hosted by Marine Maj. Gen. Doug Stone, the commander of detention operations in Iraq, and Army Col. James Brown, the head of detention operations at Camp Bucca.  Following a brief by the Bucca staff, she visited the detention facility, observed legal review boards, educational classes and a religious discussion session.  During the visit, Salim spoke with detainees and the facility guard force, as well as some of the detainees’ family members during a stop at the visitation center. 

“It was a wonderful opportunity for Minister Salim to travel to Bucca for a visit and see first hand the facilities and programs we have in place for the detainees,” said Stone.  “Everyone involved with detention operations is here to provide the highest standards of detention care and custody while supporting the efforts of the United Nations Security Council and the Government of Iraq to maintain stability and security in the region.”

Salim’s visit to the facility follows another recent event in which she officiated a detainee release ceremony at the Juvenile Education Center near the Baghdad International Airport Dec. 14.  During that event, Salim spoke to approximately 300 detainees about their future.

"We work to raise Iraq and the name of our country high for our civilization, our common history, the future of our children, and for the sake of every Iraqi citizen to have glory and pride,” Salim told the newly released Iraqis.

Detainees are held in Coalition facilities for imperative reasons of security, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions that are endorsed by the Government of Iraq, and are afforded the same standards of care and custody as outlined in Geneva Convention IV regarding the treatment of civilian internees.

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