US forces arrest Iraq Sunni leader

[Benbow]

If this report turns out to be accurate, then the US military are instruments of repression (well, it will certainly appear so to Iraqis of every religious group or none).

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6779B776-EA32-44AC-94AB-088258872169.htm

"Muhsin Abd al-Hamid was arrested at 4am at his home in the Al-Khadra district, in western Baghdad, along with his sons Yassir, Muqtad and Assyad," Alaa Makki said.

No reason was given for the arrest and the US military in Baghdad was not immediately able to confirm the incident.

Abd al-Hamid, leader of the Iraq Islamic Party, was taken away after US troops broke windows in his home and allegedly mistreated him and his sons, the party official added.

<snip>

"They didn't hesitate to cover Hamid's head with a bag before taking him away," said Makki, who slammed the arrest as "a low point in the history of Americans in Iraq".

[displacedtexan]

1. Better Headline: #2 leader of the Iraq Islamic Party gets promotion!

Friends and family wish him well.

GGGGGGGGRRRRR!!!

And this is supposed to make BushCo supporters believe "we're winning?"

Just because you take out #1 doesn't mean that #2 isn't more cunning.

[MadisonProgressive]

2. Why do they have to put a bag over everyones head?

[flpoljunkie]

3. It is, indeed, true.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Arrest.html?pagewanted=print

May 30, 2005

U.S. Detains Iraqi Islamic Party Leader

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 6:22 a.m. ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. troops detained the head of Iraq's largest Sunni Muslim political party during a house raid early Monday in western Baghdad, a top party official and police said. Mohsen Abdul Hamid, head of the Iraqi Islamic Party, was detained by American soldiers along with his three sons and four guards, said party-secretary-general Ayad al-Samarei. U.S. military officials could not immediately confirm the detentions.

Al-Samarei said American soldiers raided Hamid's home at around 6 a.m. and confiscated various items, including a computer.

''This is a provocative and foolish act and this is part of the pressure exerted on the party,'' he said.

''At the time when the Americans say they are keen on real Sunni participation, they are now arresting the head of the only Sunni party that calls for a peaceful solution and have participated in the political process,'' he added.

more...