[JURIST] The Iraqi Ministry of Justice [Global Security backgrounder] said Thursday that the US military would release six Iraqi women prisoners from Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archive], but insisted the release is not in response to threats from a militant group that has kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll [CNN profile; CSM updates] on January 7. Carroll's captors have threatened to kill her if all Iraqi female detainees are not released from custody. The US military confirmed Wednesday that it is holding eight female prisoners at Abu Ghraib [JURIST report], but US officials have not confirmed the release of any of the prisoners. Militant groups have demanded the release of female prisoners [JURIST report] before, including in October 2004 when three foreign engineers were beheaded [JURIST report] by al Qaeda militants when demands were not met. AP has more.