A prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric was released Tuesday, April 22, by U.S. forces after his detention and reported torture sparked angry demonstrations for two days, his followers said. Sheikh Mohammed al-Fartusi appeared aboard a mini-bus on Baghdad's central Fardus Square to the cheers of hundreds of Shiites who had staged protests against his reported arrest on Sunday.
| "Yay! It's our mullah! Oh, mullah, we've missed you!" |
One of his followers said he was relieved Fartusi had been freed, although U.S. army officials did not confirm he had ever been arrested. Quoting his followers, al-Jazzera correspondent said that Fartusi was tortured during his two-day detention.
| Hmmm... Prob'ly had us confused with some Iraqis or something... |
Nihad Rizkan said two days of protests in front the Palestine Hotel, which hosts both U.S. forces and foreign journalists covering the war, "contributed to his liberation." He said Fartusi would later lead prayers at the Hikma mosque, in the impoverished Shiite suburb of Baghdad where he lives.
| Guess he's recovered from his torture, huh? |
However, followers of Fartusi said U.S. forces arrested two other mullahs and their three bodyguards at Al-Dura checkpoint, 25 kilometers (10 miles) south of Baghdad. They said they were returning from Karbala, where hundreds of thousands of Shiites gathered Tuesday for the climax of a massive pilgrimage.
"Lootenant, we gotta coupla turbans here with some tough guys for bodyguards. What should we do with 'em?"
"Bring 'em in. We'll see if they're on the list..." |
Also Tuesday, the head of the National Front for Iraqi Intellectuals was arrested by the U.S. forces seeming on the grounds of his alleged connection with the deposed regime. "Some 12 U.S. armored vehicles drove to the Front's headquarters. Soldiers showed up and took Suddam al-Qaud," said his brother who denied that Suddam had any relations to the former regime. The captured is a tribal heavyweight in the western Iraqi areas and a rich businessman.
| Dontcha hate that habit dictators have of keeping detailed records? |
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