Iraq has released a US citizen held by authorities in Erbil for 11 weeks, several sources have told The National.
Earlier this week, media outlets linked to Iran-backed militias in Iraq said a dual national citizen, whose name was reported by sources only as SF Shaker, had been detained on suspicion of working with the CIA. Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed his release on Thursday, following a request for comment.
Mr Shaker, who writes under the pseudonym Anwar Al Zamani, was arrested on August 13 in the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region at the request of Iraq’s federal government in Baghdad.
His full name has been withheld for security reasons.
Mr Shaker was accused of extortion and espionage, among other charges, but sources close to the case say charges were baseless and he was investigating political influence within Iraq’s judiciary.
One source described the accusation of spying — a charge that can carry the death penalty — as “completely baseless”.
Another source said Mr Shaker attracted the suspicion of authorities after making inquiries about political influence in the Supreme Judicial Council, which has made a number of key rulings this year that helped Iran-linked parties form a government in October.
Analysts following the case worry that, in addition to violently opposing dissent from Iraqis, pro-Iran militant factions in the country are increasingly targeting foreigners, after the murder of a US aid worker in Baghdad earlier this month.
A US State Department spokesperson confirmed the US government was aware of Mr Shaker's detention but declined to give more details or confirm his release.
"We are aware of the detention of a US citizen in Erbil, Iraq," a statement said.
"The US Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas," it continued. No further details were provided.
Last week, a senior security official in the Iraqi government told The National that they were aware of a US citizen who had been detained and that negotiations were under way to secure his release.
Sources said that Mr Shaker’s release comes after weeks of careful negotiations between the US State Department and Iraqi authorities.
They added that Mr Shaker is no longer in Iraq and has been reunited with his family. His location has not been disclosed.
Mr Shaker has written several articles about Iraq for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy that are critical of Iranian influence in Iraq. One source said he had previously travelled to Iraq to research the country's judiciary.
News of his detention comes weeks after US aid worker Stephen Troell was shot dead in Baghdad. Following his murder, several pro-Iran news outlets claimed that Mr Troell, who ran a school with his family, was a spy.
Militias in the Popular Mobilisation Forces, an alliance that includes armed groups linked to Iran, have killed at least 500 protesters and activists since 2019, accusing them of working for foreign agendas.
‘Politically motivated’ arrests
Authorities in Erbil held Mr Shaker on charges of attempting to extort a senior official in the judiciary, as well as espionage, an accusation that was later dropped.
However, a source in the US who worked on trying to secure his release told The National that Mr Shaker was the victim of “entrapment” and was “lured to Iraq to discuss a business partnership”.
The source said Mr Shaker was about to fly to Baghdad before receiving a warning that Iran-backed militias wished to detain him. He then travelled to Erbil, where he was arrested.
Kurdish authorities in Erbil complied with Iraqi federal law in detaining Mr Shaker amid increasing federal government pressure to curtail the region’s semi-autonomous status.
Allies of Iraq's new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who is aligned with several Iran-backed parties, recently pushed to invalidate Kurdish government oil contracts following a supreme court ruling, while the court also struck down the presidential nomination put forward by the KDP, the main Kurdish party.
In pictures: key political figures in Iraq
Safeen Dizayee, a foreign relations representative for the Kurdish Regional Government in Erbil denied any knowledge of Mr Shaker’s detention.
Analysts say that Mr Shaker’s detention points to an increasing use of corruption accusations to ensnare political rivals in Iraq, and an increasingly acrimonious climate where suspicion of graft runs high on all sides.
“Iraq suffers from a law enforcement and judicial system that’s unreliable and politicised,” said Omar Al Nidawi, an analyst with the Enabling Peace in Iraq Centre.
Mr Al Nidawi said a key problem was the “selective application of justice that merely targets opponents while turning a blind eye to wrongdoing by allies, undermining reliable and even-handed law enforcement”.
This puts the new government’s anti-corruption efforts on shaky ground.
“There is certainly every indication that his anti-corruption campaign is not going to threaten the establishment,” said Kirk Sowell, who runs Utica Risk, an Iraq-focused consultancy.
“For example, Hadi Al Amiri ally Hayder Zayar has been appointed as head of the Integrity Commission.”
Mr Al Amiri is a senior figure in Iraq's PMF, whose Badr Organisation has been implicated in a number of corruption scandals in Iraq, including oil smuggling and illegal taxation at militia checkpoints. The Integrity Commission is Iraq's main anti-corruption body.
“The nature of corruption in Iraq is that it's politically sanctioned, it's part of the political process, part of negotiations and power politics,” said Renad Mansour, an expert at London's Chatham House who has extensively researched corruption in Iraq.
“Every prime minister, every minister, everyone involved in the government has to play a certain game, and that game is the politicisation of corruption.”
Mr Shaker drawn into Iraq’s election chaos
While Iraq’s government has not issued any statements about Mr Shaker’s detention, Iran-backed militia media outlets have published numerous reports claiming he tried to extort the head of the supreme judicial council, which has played a key role influencing the formation of the government this year.
Al Ahad and Sabreen said Mr Shaker had worked “with the CIA”.
Both are linked to US-designated terrorist organisation Asaib Ahl Al Haq, along with its political front, Sadiqun.
The accusations against Mr Shaker, as publicised by pro-militia outlets, revolve around the contentious government formation process. It was not immediately clear why Mr Shaker would be involved in this process.
Following Iraq’s elections in October 2021, Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr took the lion’s share of parliament seats but was frustrated in his efforts to form a government by pro-Iran rivals.
Al Ahad news reported Mr Shaker had informed Chief Justice Faiq Zaidan of an effort to unseat him, led by an alliance between Mr Al Sadr, the Kurdish KDP and two large Sunni parties.
Approached for comment, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed Mr Shaker's release, saying there was a "lack of evidence" to keep him detained, but would not comment on allegations.
Mr Zaidan had issued a number of rulings after the election that Mr Al Sadr’s coalition said made it harder for his alliance to form a government, including raising the number of MPs a bloc needs to elect a president.
Al Ahad then alleged that Mr Shaker had asked officials in the Supreme Judicial Council for $20 million for him to use his influence with the CIA to block Mr Al Sadr’s alliance from removing him from the court.
With no formal role in Iraqi politics, it is unclear how Mr Shaker could have such influence.
Mr Al Sadr’s alliance fell apart in the face of numerous legal and political roadblocks and tension escalated into a three-way street battle on August 29 in the secure government Green Zone.
The confrontation between Iran-backed militias, Mr Al Sadr’s followers and the Iraqi army left at least 23 dead and hundreds injured.
Mr Al Sadr had previously withdrawn his MPs from parliament, partly in protest against judicial interference in government formation, while the KDP left his coalition and joined forces with pro-Iran factions.
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The 12
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
Results
Women finals: 48kg - Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL) bt Distria Krasniqi (KOS); 52kg - Odette Guiffrida (ITA) bt Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS); 57kg - Nora Gjakova (KOS) bt Anastasiia Konkina (Rus)
Men’s finals: 60kg - Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) bt Francisco Garrigos (ESP); 66kg - Vazha Margvelashvili (Geo) bt Yerlan Serikzhanov (KAZ)
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Company%C2%A0profile
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWomen%E2%80%99s%20race%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Tigist%20Ketema%20(ETH)%202hrs%2016min%207sec%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ruti%20Aga%20(ETH)%202%3A18%3A09%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dera%20Dida%20(ETH)%202%3A19%3A29%0D%3Cbr%3EMen's%20race%3A%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Addisu%20Gobena%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A01%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lemi%20Dumicha%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A20%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20DejeneMegersa%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A42%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
