Iraq releases commander of pro-Iran paramilitary group
Qassem Muslah (center with mask) is greeted by his supporters in Kerbala, after his release on June 9, 2021. AP - Samer Khalil
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
The Iraqi authorities have announced that they have released the commander of a paramilitary group close to Iran, arrested two weeks ago, accused of "terrorist acts".
For political activists, it was mainly because of pressure from militias that this commander was released.
Publicity
Read more
Qassem Muslah's supporters greeted him as a hero on his return to his hometown of Kerbala.
The arrest on May 26 of this commander of Hachd al-Chaabi, a paramilitary coalition integrated into the state, had raised fears of the worst in Iraq.
The authorities had announced his arrest for "terrorism" but the exact reason was never mentioned, says our
correspondent in Baghdad,
Lucile Wassermann
.
Some experts and media speak of his alleged involvement in
attacks
against US forces, others of his role, again alleged, in the murder of political activists in Kerbala.
Immediately after his arrest, the country was on a ridge line.
The security forces had to close the “green zone” of the capital, an ultra-protected district where the Parliament, the Prime Minister's offices and the American embassy are located, because armed Hashd fighters besieged it.
Faced with the explosive situation, the UN representative in Iraq quickly called for calm, recalling that "
no one is above the law
".
“
Nobody, except these armed groups
”, protest today the political activists who denounce a climate of impunity and the weakness of the authorities, unable according to them to make respect the rule of law.
►
See also: Iraq: the Hachd al-Chaabi militia, a link in the Iranian chain in the region
On the evening of this release, five rockets targeted the Balad air base, north of Baghdad, where American contractors maintain Iraqi F-16 planes, a security service official told AFP.
Two of them crashed near the area occupied by these Americans, according to the same source who clarified that the attack caused no casualties or damage.
An hour later, two rockets targeted Baghdad airport where American soldiers are stationed, another official said.
The Hachd announced a major ceremony for its seventh birthday this weekend.
Sources within this coalition suggest that Qassem Mouslah could play an important role in this event - official since the Hachd is now a state institution.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Iraq
Iran