KIDNAPPED BROTHER OF INTERIOR MINISTER RELEASED

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004116 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2015 TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER IZ SUBJECT: KIDNAPPED BROTHER OF INTERIOR MINISTER RELEASED REF: (A) BAGHDAD 3480 (B) HILLAH 262 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The brother of Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabr was freed by members of the Mahdi Militia on October 2 after being held captive for 27 hours. His kidnapping is especially notable as a high-profile case where the Mahdi Militia operated more or less openly without police interference. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Dr. Abdul Jabbar Solagh Jabr was freed by members of the Mahdi Militia at approximately 1930 on October 2. Media reports indicate the Mahdi Militia freed him after a gun battle with his captors. Other sources, including Prime Minister Ja'fari and TNA member Ali al Dabbagh, however, have told us that the Mahdi Militia kidnapped Abdul and then later released him. Ali al-Dabbagh told PolCouns in an October 3 meeting that the Mahdi Militia kidnapped Abdul to "send a message" to the Interior Minister and his SCIRI Islamist party. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: We have reported previously on clashes between the Mahdi militia and the Badr militia which is closely tied to the Interior Minister's SCIRI party (refs). Those tensions are barely below the surface. This kidnapping incident also serves to remind that Basrah is not the only part of Iraq where the Mahdi militia are a major security issue; the militia also operates in parts of Baghdad, and the Baghdad police are severely challenged to contain them. END COMMENT. Khalilzad