ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish journalist from Erbil working for a Chinese state broadcaster was released on Saturday, two days after he was arrested by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) in Baghdad, according to his father.
Zhyar Rasul was arrested by PMF security forces while covering demonstrations near Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone on Thursday.
Rasul, who works for the English-language CGTN, was released on Saturday.
The Iraqi Press Freedom Advocacy Association on Friday issued a statement calling for Rasul’s “immediate release” and saying it holds Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani responsible for his safety, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
PMF supporters have held several demonstrations in Baghdad in support of Iran in its conflict with Israel, carrying pictures of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian flag, and burning the Israeli flag.
Iraqi militia groups loyal to Iran have also threatened American interests in Iraq should Washington support Israel in the conflict.
On Thursday, head of Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah Abu Ali al-Askari warned that “America’s bases will become akin to duck hunting grounds” in the region should Washington join the conflict.
The Iraqi government, politicians, and pro-Iran militia groups and figures have strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Iraq’s neighbor and closest regional ally, Iran. However, no action has yet been taken against US interests in the country or the wider region. Even groups that previously targeted US bases and Israel with suicide drones have so far refrained from any operations against their adversaries.
On Friday, Arab foreign ministers met in Istanbul in a session called for by Iraq to condemn Israel’s attacks on Iran.
On June 13, Israel launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and assassinated several senior military commanders, triggering counterstrikes from Tehran. The conflict is now in its second week. The escalation abruptly ended indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
