Iraq released names of 60 most wanted figures for allegedly supporting acts of terror

Baghdad, February 12: For the first time ever, Iraq has released the names of 60 most wanted figures who were allegedly supporting acts of terror and various terrorist organizations including ISIS, al-Qaeda and the dissolved Baath Party.

 

Iraqi authorities have released the names of 60 most wanted figures allegedly involved in supporting acts of terror. Importantly, a name that stands out on the list is the daughter of late leader Saddam Hussein, Raghad, who is living in Jordan.

The list released by Iraqi authorities also features 28 suspected ISIS, 12 from al-Qaeda and 20 Baathists, giving details of the roles they allegedly play in their organizations, crimes of which they are suspected and in most cases, photographs.

The list also includes senior members of ISIS, among them Fawaz Mohammad Mutlaq, a former officer in Saddam's Fedayeen paramilitary organization who later became a member of ISIL military council. While, Maan Bashour, a Lebanese man accused of recruiting fellow citizens to fight in Iraq, is the only non-Iraqi listed in the document.

Interestingly, the name of elusive ISIS head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is notably absent from the list. However, some of the names mentioned in the list are already included in the US's most wanted file. An Iraqi security official said, "These are the terrorists most wanted by the judicial authorities and the security services,” while adding that this is the first time we publish these names which, until now were secret.

The release of the most wanted list comes just three months ahead of national elections in the country, where current Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi is hoping to remain in office for another term.