US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4116

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, Terrorism, Security 
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