The leader of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Qassem Musleh, appeared at large among his relatives and friends for the first time in photos and videos circulated on social media, after the Iraqi authorities released him.
His arrest on May 26 caused a security earthquake in the capital, Baghdad, and a sharp dispute between the authorities and the Popular Mobilization Authority.
A Musleh appeared on the Jadiriyah Bridge in the capital when he was received by his children and some of his supporters, especially those affiliated with the "Al-Tafuf Brigade" that he leads.
A reformer among his supporters after his release (communication sites)
Popular Mobilization sources said that Musleh, who had been arrested on terrorism charges, was released today, Wednesday.
She added that the process of releasing him came in accordance with a judicial warrant and insufficient evidence of the charges against him.
Musleh had been arrested by a security force after accusations that he was involved in the killing of demonstrators, and the arrest incident caused a crisis as dozens of crowd fighters deployed inside and outside the Green Zone in Baghdad, where government buildings and foreign embassies are stationed, in protest against his arrest.
Watch the video of the first appearance of the leader in the popular crowd, Qassem Mosleh, after his release # Ihab_Al-Wazni pic.twitter.com/hUps1ezXas
— ☆Baghdad Mansoura☆ (@dptKmdJeLLWVpBQ) June 9, 2021
serious violation
Commenting on the deployment of PMF forces in the Green Zone, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi said at the time, "The movements made by armed groups in Baghdad are a serious violation, not only of the law and order, but also of the Iraqi constitution."
Al-Kazemi added, "A competent Iraqi security force executed, by order of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, a judicial arrest warrant against one of the accused...in accordance with Article 4 of the Iraqi Terrorism Law, based on complaints against him."
He pointed out that "a commission of inquiry was formed consisting of the Joint Operations Command, the Interior Intelligence, the Military Intelligence, the National Security and the Security of the Popular Mobilization, to investigate the accusations against him."
The Popular Mobilization is an institution affiliated with the Iraqi armed forces, and is directly linked to the Prime Minister.