Alive in Baghdad - Family Tells of Harrowing Kidnap

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Damascus, Syria - Kidnapping in Baghdad became very common over the last 5 years. By 2004 more then 1000 Iraqis were kidnapped in Baghdad by criminal gangs demanding ransom. In 2005 kidnappings became so bad that white papers were written on strategies to combat kidnapping. Some of those who were kidnapped were released alive and some were killed even after a ransom was paid. Individuals on all sides of the conflict have been the target of kidnappings. Journalists have accounted for 51 of the thousands of kidnappings in Iraq, a far greater number than during the United States' last major conflict in Vietnam. Although kidnappings of journalists have dropped off since 2006, according to Reporters Without Borders, at least fourteen kidnapped since early 2006 are still unaccounted for.

Kidnappings of foreign aid workers and journalists have largely dropped off due to these organizations instituting stringent security practices, all but preventing them from accomplishing their work, and nearly every foreign aid agency has now left Iraq, including the Christian Peacemaker Teams who left after four of their teammates were kidnapped in 2006, one of whom was killed. Iraqi civilians however continue to be targeted.

In 2006 Baghdad became a nightmare, more then 200 being kidnapped every day in Baghdad by gangs and militias. The bad security conditions exacerbated the criminal activities of militias and gangs over the last few years. No one goes out late at night or drives expensive cars on the streets of Baghdad. It became normal not to see any modern cars in Baghdad, due to the dangerous situation and the control of gangs in many Baghdad neighborhoods. The Iraqi morgue has filled with unknown corpses over the years. Some families travel every morning to the morgue, looking for their fathers, brothers, or other relatives, because in many cases though the family pays a ransom to the kidnapper they never received their loved one, so they go desperately searching for a corpse, and there are many kidnapped people who, to this moment, have never been found.

The Iraqi government is trying to stop those gangs and militias from kidnapping people, but there are some police patrols and military troops infiltrated by members of certain militias. In several cases they've been successful, but there are also many kidnappings still going on in areas outside Baghdad's control.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• documentary
• news
• baghdad
• iraq
• syria
• kidnap
• kidnapping
• children
• gang
• criminals
• militia
• gangs
• crime
• war

[Oranjee1089]

Atleast it had a happy ending, I hope for peace and stability for the good Iraqi people.

[justaordinaryguy]

Thank God the boy is back with his family and bless this family forever. Thank you for sharing this story with us.

[TheyCallMeSmileyGirl]

هذا الفيديو هو رهيبة آمل ان تكون هذه الأسرة لديه توجيهات من الله

[HEAVENLYFATHER3000]

Wow Iraq is full of demons.

[atheer2002]

this is terrible...

[Rinduri]

@MoonlightEmbrace

Well, majority does. :/ Lest we wouldn't really have them in office, would we?

[mohammedshreef70]

اني اسمي عمر ولحد الان خايف مع العلم ماكو شي هسه بس خايف

[MoonlightEmbrace]

@BeFamousMyWay Hey, don't confuse the US government with America (and the american people). The people and the country are not responsible for the crimes of the rulers.

[enoughbullshit]

@gosciu555 yes and don't forget that they nationalised the Oil! and that was the main reason why they started to destroy iraq, by involving it in wars one after another. And now is the Oil back again in their hands.

[BeFamousMyWay]

my friend in school is Iraqi and she loves America, but for wat??? for killing her neighbors and the people they loved??????

[Bill123321]

gosciu555, you either were not in Iraq or were not affected by Saddams war. As for Iraq was a leading Arab country, I agree but that was before Saddam and his clan took over. And by the way, Dubai is a good example of a successful Arab nation that found its way to civilization without blood, war or aggression.

[lighthousegril]

Your country has had war since the beginning of time and war in middle east will never end until the end of time. Its all in the Word of God , if this is true, then those men will have to be judged by God HIMSELF, I must tell you USA is not perfect , but its the best Country in the World, God bless the World, because we are all brothers and sisters your people are my people , my people are your people we are from the same human race. God created Us ALL. .