Iraqi court sentences man to 15 years over kidnapping of US journalist in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A Baghdad criminal court has sentenced Amir Rahim Jabbar Lazim to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the kidnapping of American freelance journalist Shelley Kittelson, finding him guilty under Iraq's counterterrorism law. Kittelson, who lives in Rome and has worked with several U.S. and European media outlets, was abducted in Baghdad on March 31. The militant group Kata'ib Hezbollah later announced it had released Kittelson, framing the move as a response to the Iraqi prime minister's stance. The group said the journalist was freed on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately, and Iraqi security officials confirmed that deportation proceedings were underway following her handover to authorities. The sentence was issued by the Central Criminal Court's Baghdad/Rusafa division, according to local reporting.