Masked Iraqi security personnel escort detainees in yellow prison uniforms with their heads covered. The insignia of the National Security Service (INSS) is visible on an officer’s uniform, with the Iraqi flag in the background. (Photo published by the National Security Service.)
Arrests 10 in Maysan
National Security Service thwarts ritual suicide plot
MAYSAN – Iraq’s National Security Service says it foiled a planned suicide in Maysan by a member of the extremist group Al-Qurban and arrested 10 individuals linked to the organization, officials said Friday.
In a statement, the National Security Service said, “The National Security Service in Maysan arrested 10 suspects belonging to the extremist group Al-Qurban.”
Also known as “Al-Ali al-Alahiya,” Al-Qurban emerged in southern Iraq—particularly in Dhi Qar governorate—and is notorious for its dangerous rituals. The group’s practice involves a lottery system that selects a member to commit suicide by hanging as a form of alleged sacrifice, a ritual that has led to multiple suicides among young individuals in the region. Security forces have repeatedly targeted the group in efforts to prevent further loss of life.
According to security officials, the latest draw had selected an individual identified as (A. S.), who was expected to take his own life within the next three days. “After obtaining judicial approvals, our teams moved in and arrested the target at a café in the city center,” the statement said.
Authorities say the suspect confessed to being a member of Al-Qurban and provided details about the group’s activities, leading to the arrest of nine additional individuals linked to the organization.