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