Iraq human rights office urges stronger law enforcement in Basra

BASRA, Iraq — The Basra office of Iraq's High Commission for Human Rights has called on the federal government to step up efforts to enforce the law and protect human rights, citing years of stalled security measures in the southern oil hub. In a written statement released on Tuesday, the office said Basra's strategic location and exposure to serious crimes, including drug trafficking, made the resumption of long-stalled security camera installation a priority. It also called for fuller training of investigation officers both inside and outside Iraq. The commission said human rights training should be made mandatory for investigators, noting that cases of torture and ill-treatment continue to be recorded at high rates. It expressed hope that such training would help reduce those figures. The statement also urged the Interior Ministry to implement its decision requiring interrogations to be recorded on camera and to strengthen the judicial powers of investigative authorities. No further details were immediately available.