Former Hashd al-Shaabi commander detained in Iraq's Diyala province

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A former Hashd al-Shaabi commander was detained in the Khanaqin district of Diyala province on charges of inciting sectarian and ethnic hatred, a government source said. Security forces took Kamran Vis Murad, known as Abu al-Muntazir al-Dalwi, into custody under Article 200 of Iraq's penal code, which criminalizes incitement to sectarian, racial and ethnic hatred. According to the source, the arrest followed Murad's online dissemination of video clips calling on residents not to associate with Arabs and urging them not to live in Khanaqin. The videos also reportedly included calls to deny Arabs any government positions. The source said Murad previously served at one of Iraq's border crossings and held a leadership role within the Hashd al-Shaabi before joining the Badr Organization, where he took on responsibilities in Khanaqin. He later left Badr to join the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement and subsequently left that group as well. According to current information, Murad most recently joined the Kurdistan Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, known as Yekgirtu. No further details were immediately available.