The Iraqi government said Friday (September 7th) that it has assigned 10,000 security personnel to protect Iraqi judges and their families against retaliatory attacks by terrorist groups.

The move came following an escalation in attacks on judges and investigators, officials said.

"The Iraqi government has appointed three to six of the Interior Ministry's security personnel to protect each judge and his family against terrorist attacks," Abdul-Sattar al-Birqdar, spokesperson for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, told Al-Shorfa.

"The Interior Ministry assigned 2,500 policemen and 7,500 security guards to accompany judges at their places of work and to guard their houses," he said, adding that the ministry is providing armoured vehicles for court leaders.

"Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups are trying to influence Iraqi judges' decisions against criminals and terrorists through intimidation and assassination," he said. "Therefore, the necessary security protection will be provided for them."