Nujaba official freed within a day as group compares arrest to Saddam era

BAGHDAD — Harakat al-Nujaba said an intelligence official detained by the Counter-Terrorism Service on Monday has been released, and accused the government of escalating against armed factions in a way that recalled security practices under Saddam Hussein.

Abbas al-Yaqoubi was detained early Monday at his home in the Fadhliya subdistrict of Suq al-Shuyukh, in Dhi Qar, transferred later that day to the PMF General Directorate of Security, and freed, the group said. Local sources told 964media that tribal leaders and community figures had circulated calls for protests and an open-ended sit-in demanding his release.

Nujaba member Mahdi al-Kaabi said the arrest should have been handled through the Popular Mobilization Forces rather than the Counter-Terrorism Service. “This escalation by the prime minister represents a dangerous escalation, and the arrest and terrorizing of the families of resistance fighters are reminiscent of the security measures during Saddam’s time, of terrorizing and intimidating people,” he told Alawla TV.

He said the group had lobbied Coordination Framework leaders, naming Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri. “The leaders of the Coordination Framework do not accept these measures, and we are in contact with them, especially al-Amiri, so that they take a position, because taking the country in one direction makes it appear as if the prime minister is the only person who has the decision,” he said. Kaabi said a demonstration was planned for Wednesday to send a message to the government.

He denied that the detention was connected to reported threats against Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zaidan or to corruption. “Everything circulated about linking the targeting of the head of the Judicial Council to al-Yaqoubi’s arrest is incorrect, and his charge is not corruption because we do not have any economic office,” he said.

Asharq al-Awsat, citing unidentified Iraqi sources, reported that Yaqoubi is an intelligence director in PMF Brigade 14, a Nujaba formation, and was suspected of involvement in moving missiles and drones from Iran into Iraq and on to other countries. The newspaper said political and factional pressure preceded his transfer into PMF custody. Nujaba has rejected the allegations.

Nujaba is one of three factions refusing to join Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s plan to bring weapons under state control by Sept. 30, alongside Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, arguing their weapons are needed while U.S. forces remain. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Saraya al-Salam and the Imam Ali Battalions have moved to comply.