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Detainees that are being released into Iraqi society raise their right hand and recite the oath of peace during a detainee release ceremony on June 23, 2009. The detainees are also required to sign and fingerprint an oath of peace document that states they will become productive members of society and abstain from crimes against Iraq and Coalition Forces.

MOSUL, Iraq — Approximately 20 detainees were released from Coalition Forces custody on June 23 through a detainee release program which is designed to take cycle detainees that do not have arrest warrants back into Iraqi society.

Through the combined efforts of Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces, 15 to 20 detainees will be released every week in accordance with the Security Agreement between Iraqi and the U.S.

“We are releasing these detainees either to Iraqi Security Forces or back into society based on requirements of the Security Agreement,” said Captain Jose Pena, 3rd “Greywolf” Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division provost marshall. “We release them back to society unless they have a valid warrant [for their arrest]. If they have a valid warrant, we release into Iraqi Security Forces custody for local prosecution.”

Coalition Forces are currently working with ISF to release detainees classified as green cases, which identifies them as a low threat risk. These cases consist mainly of individuals that were suspected of being involved in attacks or raids against Coalition Forces but didn’t have enough evidence against them to issue an arrest warrant.

“Even though [the green cases] are considered a low security threat, they could still be a threat to society,” said Pena. “That’s why we still check for arrest warrants and make sure they have none pending with the law.”

According to Pena, the detainees released had no warrants and were released back into society.

The detainees, some of which have been in detention facilities in Iraq for two to three years, go through a release ceremony in which they place their finger print and signature on a document called the Oath of Peace, a promise to Iraq that they will become productive members of Iraqi society and abstain from criminal or insurgent activities. They are then required to recite the oath aloud after signing the document.

Upon their release, an Iraqi release committee ensures that they are transported safely to their families.

35 detainees have been released since the start of this program. To date, none of these detainees have been arrested or detained since reentering society.

According to Pena, Coalition Forces in Ninewah expect to release approximately 500 detainees that were captured in the region, by the end of the year.