A Sydney Shi'ite Muslim leader kidnapped at gunpoint in Iraq was released after his captors robbed him of $35,000, family and friends said today. The Australian government was unaware of Sheik Mohammed Naji's plight until yesterday, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said. Sheik Naji, also known as Mohammad Sumyani, was reportedly driving in an area south of the capital Baghdad when a gang stopped his car, beat him and other passengers and kidnapped them. The gang kept the 60-year-old captive for three days before bundling him into the boot of a car, driving him to the town of Mahmoudeya, giving him $2 and freeing him because he was a cleric, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported. Sheik Naji's nephew, Firas Naji, said today the captors initially threatened to kill his uncle if a $145,000 ransom demand was not met. "When they first took him, one of them said 'you're going to get killed tonight'," Mr Naji told Sky television. He was freed after the kidnappers took $35,000, Sky reported.
| From where? Out of his suitcase? Sounds like there's a story within this story... |
Lebanese Muslim Association director Keysar Trad, a friend of the sheik, said he had spoken with Shi'ite leaders and Sheik Naji's brother in Sydney, Salem, who said the money was not a ransom. "He didn't pay a ransom," Mr Trad said. "That was money he had on his person that was taken from him."
| "They called it a 'donation.'" |
Mr Downer said he was unaware of the details of the incident. "I only found out yesterday that he had been kidnapped and at this stage I understand he has said he was kidnapped because he was an Australian," Mr Downer told ABC radio. "There were others who are suggesting that he was kidnapped in order to get money from him and he had a substantial amount of money on him. But I don't really know more than that."
A spokeswoman for Mr Downer's department told AAP today officials heard earlier this week that a person with dual Australian-Iraq citizenship might be missing in southern Iraq. The department began inquiries to verify this through its embassy in Baghdad, but then received information that the person had been released. Sheik Naji had not been specifically targeted in the kidnapping, Mr Trad said. "They didn't know he was an Australian," he said.
| "Ali Baba just heard he had some cash with him..." |
"He just identified himself as a Shi'ite scholar. He is a man of high learning."
| "... with a hefty wallet." |
The state of lawlessness in Iraq had made him a random target, he said. Sheik Naji, a grandfather who was also friends with the Mufti of Australia, Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali, left Sydney to live in Iraq late last year. However, four married daughters and at least four of his brothers were still in Sydney, Mr Trad said. Mr Naji said his uncle was now considering returning to Sydney.
| "I'm broke. I'm hoping my kids can put me up..." |
Meanwhile, Mr Downer said the government had been unable to verify the kidnapping of two other Australians in Iraq despite more than two days passing since a deadline to pull out Australian troops from Iraq expired. |