Ex-adviser calls on Iraqi PM to intervene directly for release of Iraqis detained in Saudi Arabia

BAGHDAD — Abdul-Hussein Hanein, former advisor to ex-PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi, stated Friday that while the Iraqi government’s recent appointment of a lawyer to advocate for 26 Iraqi detainees held in Saudi Arabia is a constructive step, it may not suffice for a prompt resolution. Hanein highlighted that a personal call from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could expedite their immediate release.

On Oct. 9, Hanein disclosed that more than 20 Iraqi citizens had been detained by Saudi authorities following a social media post referencing the late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

“A friend, accompanied by the father of one of the detainees, informed me that the government has appointed a lawyer to follow up on the case, but their families are anxiously waiting without any means to assist,” Hanein wrote in a Facebook post. “While appointing a lawyer is a sound but routine procedure, it’s time-consuming and insufficient. What’s truly needed is a direct call from the Prime Minister to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has the authority to release them immediately.”

Hanein conveyed confidence that a direct appeal from al-Sudani would be effective, given the strong ties and goodwill shared between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. He urged the Prime Minister to take swift action, saying, “These are your citizens, and it’s your duty to protect them.”

Despite escalating concerns, Iraqi authorities have yet to issue public statements about the detentions or outline any official actions toward resolving the situation.