Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq’s Ministry of Justice announced on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the establishment of university-level classroom branches inside Susa Central Prison and Amarah Central Prison, expanding higher education access for inmates across correctional facilities.
According to an official statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the initiative aligns with ministerial directives issued by Justice Minister Khaled Shwani and activates an inter-ministerial memorandum of cooperation concluded with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The implementation framework pairs Susa Central Prison with private higher education institutions in Sulaymaniyah, while Amarah Central Prison is partnering with specialized university faculties in Maysan Governorate.
Murad Mahdi Haidar, Director of Media at the Ministry of Justice, confirmed that the academic expansion represents an evolutionary leap in penal rehabilitation programs.
The initiative broadens inmate education beyond standard adult literacy and secondary equivalency classes, granting eligible candidates the opportunity to pursue recognized undergraduate degree programs and acquire professional skill sets during their incarceration.
The ministry emphasized that integrating academic tertiary education forms a foundational pillar of modern correctional policy, aimed at strengthening personal cognitive development and lowering recidivism.
By equipping inmates with accredited intellectual credentials, the penal system seeks to ease community reintegration and enable former prisoners to secure stable employment post-release.
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