The man in charge of drawing up an electoral list backed by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority, has been arrested by the US military, an aide said Sunday.
"American forces on Saturday arrested Mohammed Hashem al-Yehya, coordinator of the six-person committee set up by the Marjaiya (Iraq's highest Shiite authority) to supervise the drawing up of an electoral list with the backing of the ayatollah," said a Sistani representative in the holy city of Najaf.
"If he is not released, there will be serious consequences," said the source, giving no reason for Yehya's arrest in Baghdad.
Turkish Press article"American forces on Saturday arrested Mohammed Hashem al-Yehya, coordinator of the six-person committee set up by the Marjaiya (Iraq's highest Shiite authority) to supervise the drawing up of an electoral list with the backing of the ayatollah," said a Sistani representative in the holy city of Najaf.
"If he is not released, there will be serious consequences," said the source, giving no reason for Yehya's arrest in Baghdad.
Is it connected to this?.....
Radical Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr has agreed to join an election list supported by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, an al-Sadr spokesman said on Sunday.
article[...]
Al-Sadr had earlier said he would not participate in elections following the US-Iraqi offensive against Fallujah last month.
Juan Cole comments:
The US military on Sunday arrested Muhammad Hasan Al Yahya. He is the coordinator of the six-man committee that is cobbling together a mega-list of Shiite candidates for parliament. KarbalaNews.net reveals that Al Yahya is a blood relative of the Grand Ayatollah, and says that the US forces surrounded the Waziriyyah district of Baghdad where Al Yahya lives, and closed in on him.
A number of Shiite figures immediately demanded his release. KarbalaNews.net maintains that its sources in Najaf say that the US released Al Yahya late Sunday. There is no indication as to why he might have been arrested.
Rumors are flying in Baghdad as to whether Muqtada al-Sadr and his movement will run on Sistani's mega-list or not. Al-Hayat is saying that he has declined. But The Khalij Times says he is joining.
A number of Shiite figures immediately demanded his release. KarbalaNews.net maintains that its sources in Najaf say that the US released Al Yahya late Sunday. There is no indication as to why he might have been arrested.
Rumors are flying in Baghdad as to whether Muqtada al-Sadr and his movement will run on Sistani's mega-list or not. Al-Hayat is saying that he has declined. But The Khalij Times says he is joining.
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