An Amnesty International (AI) report accused the United States and its allies occupying Iraq of mistreating prisoners saying, “from the outset the occupying forces attached insufficient weight to human rights considerations.” The occupying forces, mostly under the US, hold about 14,000 prisoners often without any due process and most of them tortured. The report said that most prisoners are held for several days without any charge, access to lawyers or family, and suddenly released without explanation or reparation. The system is so “arbitrary and ripe for abuse” that even the International Red Cross is denied access. To make its point, AI said that between August 2004 to November 2005, out of 21,999 files reviewed, only 1,301 suspected militants were tried; 4,426 were freed unconditionally, 7,626 released to guarantors and 9,903 retained in jail without trial. Furthermore, the occupying forces hand over their prisoners to Iraqi intelligence agencies, which systematically mistreat prisoners through assault, hanging by hands or painful positions, electric shocks, branding, and breaking bones. The Iraqi police often execute their prisoners without due process. Iraqi Human Rights Minister Nirmeen Othman admitted that there was widespread abuse in Iraq. However, he said there are two committees investigating into these charges. One committee was established last November and asked to report its findings in two weeks, which it has not. The second one was formed recently to overcome the incompetence of the other one.