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Kadhimi Assigns Counter-Terrorism Unit to Free Kidnapped Activist

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. (Reuters)
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Kadhimi Assigns Counter-Terrorism Unit to Free Kidnapped Activist

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. (Reuters)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi on Monday ordered dispatching a special anti-terror force backed by the army's air force to locate the Iraqi activist Sajjad al-Iraqi, who was kidnapped by a group of armed gunmen in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

Kadhimi’s orders came after the security forces and local police in Nasiriyah failed to free the activist three days after he was kidnapped.

“A force from the Anti-Terrorism Service was assigned to go to Dhi Qar governorate backed by army air forces to locate and free the kidnapped activist,” Iraq’s Security Media Cell said.

Dhi Qar Police Chief Hazem al-Waeli on Monday revealed new information about al-Iraqi’s kidnapping.

“Security forces were able to identify the kidnapper through the testimonies of eyewitnesses and al-Iraqi’s friends who were accompanying him during the time of the kidnapping,” al-Waeli said, adding that the police also used information retrieved from the tire tracks left behind by the abductor’s vehicle.

Al-Waeli confirmed that security forces started taking necessary measures regarding the case.

Al-Iraqi was kidnapped by seven gunmen mounting a pick-up truck on Saturday evening from the Al-Azirij neighborhood north of Nasiriyah.

One of al-Iraqi’s companions was shot, but he survived his wounds and identified the kidnappers.

Despite activists in Nasiriyah accusing al-Ibrahimi tribe of being behind the abduction, driven mainly by political aims, al-Waeli said that the motives behind the kidnapping remain unclear.

“We have no information about the reason for his kidnapping, we do not know that there are tribal problems, or problems with posting on Facebook, or maybe a fight took place on the same day, but we will know all of that after the kidnappers are arrested,” al-Waeli said.

Protesters took to the streets soon after news of the kidnapping broke out. Demonstrators blocked bridges crossing the Euphrates River and closed down the majority of official offices in an effort to pressure local authorities and the police to uncover the whereabouts of al-Iraqi.

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Islamic Consensus in Istanbul on Need for Solidarity Against Israeli Escalation

A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
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Islamic Consensus in Istanbul on Need for Solidarity Against Israeli Escalation

A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)

The 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul, witnessed a clear consensus among member states on the need for unity and solidarity in the face of Israel’s ongoing escalation. This comes amid continued international silence on the violations committed in Gaza and Israel’s expanding attacks into Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
 
In his opening speech, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that the world’s silence on Israel’s aggressive policies in Palestine has only encouraged its regional expansion. He asserted that the coming period will see a “much greater role for the Islamic world, which must become an independent global power.”
 
Erdogan urged Islamic nations to overcome internal disputes and unite in defending their common causes. He warned that Netanyahu’s “Zionist ambitions” could push the world into catastrophe, likening the threat to that of Adolf Hitler, whose ambitions ignited World War II.
 
Regarding Iran, Erdogan stressed that defending oneself against Israeli attacks is a legitimate right, stating: “There is no difference between an attack on Tehran, Istanbul, Makkah, or Madinah - they share the same fate.”

He also warned against attempts to impose a “new Sykes-Picot” agreement on the region. He added that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worse than Nazi concentration camps, with over two million Palestinians struggling to survive under siege for nearly two years.
 
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who assumed the presidency of the session, warned that Israel is dragging the region to the brink of total catastrophe.
He stressed that the core issue is not about Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, or others. It is “an Israeli problem,” he said. He further called for a firm stance against the aggression and praised Egypt and Qatar for their ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire.
 
Fidan criticized the failure of international mechanisms, particularly the UN Security Council, in addressing the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.
 
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned any targeting of nuclear facilities in Iran, warning of severe humanitarian and environmental consequences. He said that expanding the war will not bring peace and stressed the necessity of returning to diplomacy, referencing past successful negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
 
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi condemned Israel’s violations of international law and sovereignty in its attacks on Iran. He called for restraint, a return to diplomacy, and praised Oman’s mediation between the US and Iran.
 
Closed sessions were held in Istanbul to discuss developments in Gaza and Iran’s nuclear negotiations. A special Arab ministerial meeting also took place, denouncing the Israeli aggression against Iran and calling for urgent efforts to de-escalate.