Iraqi militia commander, whose arrest stoked tensions, freed
QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SAMYA KULLAB, Associated Press
June 9, 2021
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BAGHDAD (AP) An Iraqi militia commander whose arrest last month sparked a standoff between the government and paramilitary groups was freed Wednesday after a judge ordered his release.
The release of Qassim Mahmoud Musleh came as Iranian Gen. Esmail Ghaani, head of the expeditionary Quds Force, arrived in Baghdad to meet with militia and political leaders, two Shiite political officials said.
The officials said the meeting was to address ongoing tensions between the government and some militia groups linked to Iran following Musleh s arrest.
BAGHDAD (AP) An Iraqi militia commander whose arrest last month sparked a standoff between the government and paramilitary groups was freed Wednesday after a judge ordered his release.
Two Iraqi officials said Qasim Mahmoud Muslih was released at 8am (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
His supporters greeted him with hugs and kisses on Baghdad’s central Jadriya Bridge, taking photos and videos with him to celebrate.
Muslih, from the southern holy city of Karbala, was arrested on May 26. The military had said the charges were terrorism-related but did not give details.
He is the head of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Anbar province.
Security officials told Reuters news agency at the time that the arrest was linked to attacks on US forces stationed in Iraq. Some media and analysts said it was because of Muslih’s alleged involvement in the killing of peaceful pro-democracy activists.
Supporters of Qassim Mahmoud Musleh greeted him with hugs and kisses on Baghdad s central Jadriya Bridge after his release, taking photos and videos with him to celebrate. Two Iraqi officials said Musleh was released at 8 a.m. and he returned to the southern city of Karbala, his hometown, where supporters also greeted him.