Iraqi TV host Ali Al-Dhabhawi kidnapped by unknown gunmen for criticising Muqtada al-Sadr

Ali al-Dhabhawi, a presenter at Al-Baghdadiya Iraqi television channel, was abducted late on Tuesday, 3 October, by unidentified gunmen in front of his residence in the heart of the capital city of Baghdad. The incident followed his comments regarding the prominent Shia cleric and the Sadrist movement leader, Muqtada al-Sadr.

The TV channel said on its official Facebook page that a group of twenty armed individuals seized al-Dhabhawi in the presence of Iraqi security forces and transported him to an undisclosed location. It also added that his whereabouts and well-being remain unknown presently.

Situated in the Al-Wazireya neighbourhood within the Adhamiyah District of Baghdad, the channel pointed its finger towards Saraya al-Salam, the armed wing of the Sadrist Movement, as responsible for the abduction and safety of al-Dhabhawi.

Iraqi broadcast regulators suspend Baghdadiya news channel following remarks aired about Muqtada Al-Sadr.

They appear to have taken an entire TV station off-air over claims that Sadr is a hobbyist librarian and avid book reader.https://t.co/uI5QSa0Aou pic.twitter.com/0pH4Ck7p8N

— The Citadel (@thecitadel_co) October 4, 2023

The New Arab sought comment from Major General Khaled Al-Mahna, spokesperson for Iraq's interior ministry, who redirected inquiries to the Baghdad Operations.

TNA also contacted Iraq's Commission for Media and Communications via email, yet no response had been received as of the time of publishing.  

On the same night, hundreds of Sadr loyalists gathered outside the television channel's premises, demanding its closure and an apology from the presenter who they perceived made comments of "defamation against Muqtada al-Sadr".

Al-Dhabhawi, known for hosting the political talk show "Studio 9," made critical remarks regarding a social media image of Sadr arranging books at his home during his last program. The presenter questioned Sadr's contributions to Iraq's education system, pondering whether he had built schools or simply remained secluded at home sorting books.

Sadr's supporters viewed these comments as defamation of their spiritual leader.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi lawyer shared a document on social media, raising a complaint against the journalist with Iraq's general attorney under the charge of"defamation of Sadr."

Some loyalists of Sadr also said a security force had arrested the journalist following the legal complaint. 

Muqtada al-Sadr's political influence surged after winning a significant majority with 73 seats in the early elections held on 10 October 2021. He initially pledged to form a "national majority" government in collaboration with Sunni and Kurdish blocs, signalling a rift with other pro-Iran Shia blocs.

However, Sadr subsequently ordered his bloc's lawmakers to resign, which they complied with on 12 June. He declared a one-year hiatus from politics, during which he vowed to enact reforms through religious teachings and service to the faith.

In response, the "Coordination Framework" political bloc assumed the vacant seats, becoming the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament. Mohamed Shia al-Sudani was elected as Iraq's prime minister, pledging to organise early general elections within a year.

Nonetheless, he recently indicated readiness to hold early elections if the parliament chooses to dissolve itself.