Photo By Capt. John Landry | Once complete, the Al Fijir Courthouse in northern Dhi Qar province, Iraq, will...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — "The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept." This passage, first uttered in William Shakespeare's play "Measure for Measure," accurately describes the current state of the judicial system in southern Iraq.
Yet, this was once the birthplace of the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia and home to Hammurabi's Code, one of the world's earliest written sets of laws.
Now, with help from U.S. forces and the U.S. State Department's Provincial Reconstruction Teams, modern day Iraq is in the process of reawakening its judicial system after years of oppression, war and neglect.
In the southern provinces of Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Muthanna the this mission of advising and assisting falls to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment (Task Force Pathfinder).
As part of one project, they provided 50 evidence collection kits and training to members of the Iraqi police. Even this simple program has already shown great results, with a marked rise in the use of forensic evidence in cases rather than confessions and testimonials alone.
However, it takes more than modern investigative techniques to restore a functioning judicial system. In southern Iraq, there are also shortfalls in the infrastructure.
Though some courthouses have been built by the Iraqi central government, others remain incomplete, abandoned due to budget shortfalls.
The Al Fijir Courthouse in northern Dhi Qar is one such example. Originally started by the Dhi Qar provincial council, the building was abandoned after funding dried up.
As a result, court hearings were diverted outside of the district, putting a strain on the neighboring courts and causing numerous delays in prosecution.
Tapping into the Commander's Emergency Response Program funds, the taskforce was able to get the Al Fijir Courthouse construction back on schedule.
"It will allow judicial procedures to be properly executed ... affecting over 300,000 people," said 1st Lt. Phillip Martin, the project officer.
Sgt. 1st. Class Samuel Encinias, a project manager with Task Force Pathfinder, expounded on the significance of the courthouse renovation.
"It has increased the number of court cases the province completes because it allows them to perform their daily functions," he said. "It is important for the Iraqi people to see local crimes handled by an impartial, local judge."
Since all materials and labor for the project are obtained locally, this project also stimulates the local economy.
The Dhi Qar PRT's Rule of Law Advisor, Luca Costa, works to develop the judicial system on a parallel track, creating partnerships with law students and professors at An Nasiriyah University's Law School, bringing in Italian legal experts to conduct classes on important constitutional issues, while reinforcing open communication between the police that investigate crimes and the investigative judges that prosecute them.
Through constant interaction, Costa discovered the need for a consolidated, accessible location for legal information relevant to the needs of Dhi Qar.
Using Quick Response Funds - state department grants used to address essential social needs - he created a website where pertinent legal information in Arabic is readily accessible.
"We aim to open the door and encourage them to discover the information out there," said Costa.
Initiatives like these, combined with Rule of Law seminars hosted by the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division's Judge Advocate General officers and PRT Rule of Law advisors, such as Costa, are helping fill the voids in the Iraqi judicial system.
Through such mentorship, training, and reconstruction efforts, Iraqis are steadily moving closer to regaining the impartial, efficient legal system that is critical to sustaining the progress made in the region.
"After so many years of war and sectarian violence, it is critical that we do all we can to leave behind a fair, functioning judicial system," said Lt. Col. Michael Eastman, commander of Task Force Pathfinder. "The equality of all Iraqis before the law is a fundamental principle that will go a long way towards safeguarding the progress made in this country."
| Date Taken: | 01.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.07.2010 01:34 |
| Story ID: | 43510 |
| Location: | TALLIL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 710 |
| Downloads: | 535 |
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