Iraqis denounce authorities' hypocrisy over terror-sowing Shiite militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi, here at a press conference in Basra, Iraq on July 15, 2020. Ahmed al-Rubaye / Pool Photo via AP

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In Iraq, the activist and journalist found Saturday July 10 after his kidnapping received a visit from the Prime Minister this Sunday.

Real compassion or communication operation?

The debate is open on social networks, where part of the Iraqis denounce the hypocrisy of the authorities about the Shiite militias which sow terror among the population.

Publicity

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Ali el-Mikdam is a journalist and a figure in the mobilizations that began in October 2019, which notably rejects the omnipotence of pro-Iranian factions.

On Friday evening, he was kidnapped, he was found 24 hours later with numerous traces of beatings and hospitalized in Baghdad.

The Prime Minister in person therefore went to his bedside this Sunday.

The Twitter account of Mustafa al-Kazimi's office hastened to publish photos of the event, also claiming that Iraqi security forces had released the young man.

رئيس مجلس الوزراء @MAKadhimi يطمئن على صحة الصحفي والناشط علي المگدام في احدى مستشفيات بغداد ، بعده أق نوطيفي والناشط علي المگدام في احدى مستشفيات بغداد ، بعده أق نوطتخه

pic.twitter.com/SnJhybx7rK

- المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) July 10, 2021

Government inertia?

However, several activists claim that Ali el-Mikdam was simply found on the side of a road.

Human rights activists have called on the government to truly shoulder its responsibilities in identifying those responsible for the kidnapping, even though they say they know they will not.

Ali el-Mikdam had just published an article shortly before his kidnapping in which he denounced the dozens of assassinations of opponents denouncing corruption and the Iranian stranglehold on Baghdad.

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