Lieutenant Colonel Omar Nizar, an officer in Iraq’s Rapid Response Forces, was arrested by Saudi authorities during Umrah in Mecca for posting a video supporting Palestinians and Hezbollah. Nizar, previously involved in the Zaytoun Bridge Massacre during the 2019 protests, was sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later overturned due to insufficient evidence. His recent arrest has garnered attention, though there has been no official comment from Iraqi officials regarding the situation.
Saudi authorities have detained Lieutenant Colonel Omar Nizar, an officer in Iraq’s esteemed Rapid Response Forces, while he was engaged in the religious ritual of Umrah in Mecca. His arrest is reportedly linked to a social media video wherein he prayed for the triumph of Palestinians in Gaza and the militia group Hezbollah in Lebanon. This video garnered wide attention online and appears to have prompted the Saudi public prosecution to refer his case to the State Security Agency. Nizar’s legal representative has conveyed to Iraq’s state television that the circumstances surrounding his case remain uncertain. Nizar’s name has been a contentious one in Iraq, primarily due to allegations concerning his participation in the Zaytoun Bridge Massacre during the anti-government protests of 2019. In June 2023, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for his purported orders to direct security forces to fire upon demonstrators in Nasiriyah, resulting in 20 fatalities and approximately 190 injuries. These protests were fueled by widespread discontent regarding inadequate public services, rampant corruption, and soaring unemployment rates, leading to over 600 deaths across Iraq, with Nasiriyah being among the hardest-hit locations. However, merely a few months post-sentencing, Iraq’s Court of Appeals overturned Nizar’s life sentence, citing “insufficient evidence” to substantiate the conviction. The decision highlighted doubts concerning the evidence presented and the plaintiffs’ inability to provide consistent eyewitness accounts against Nizar, ultimately setting the stage for his release. The Zaytoun Bridge Massacre marked one of the most tragic events during the protests and was a critical factor in prompting the resignation of former Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. Despite widespread international denunciation from entities such as the United Nations, which condemned Iraq’s enduring failure to hold those accountable for violence against protesters, convictions for those responsible remain scarce. Nizar’s recent apprehension in Saudi Arabia has drawn renewed scrutiny, yet Iraqi officials have remained silent on the development. Efforts to obtain a comment from Miqdad Miri, the spokesperson for Iraq’s Interior Ministry, were unsuccessful as he was unreachable.
In 2019, Iraq experienced widespread protests against corruption and poor governance, leading to significant violence and loss of life. The Zaytoun Bridge Massacre was one of the critical incidents during these protests, resulting in the deaths of numerous demonstrators at the hands of security forces. Lieutenant Colonel Omar Nizar, implicated in orchestrating these killings, initially faced a life sentence but saw it overturned due to insufficient evidence just months later. Nizar’s recent arrest while performing Umrah has reignited discussions about accountability for violence against protesters and the broader implications of his actions within Iraq’s turbulent political landscape.
In summary, the arrest of Lieutenant Colonel Omar Nizar in Saudi Arabia during Umrah highlights significant concerns regarding the intersection of political and religious activities in the region. Nizar’s controversial past in Iraq, particularly regarding allegations of involvement in a massacre during anti-government protests, intertwines with current geopolitical tensions. His case illustrates ongoing issues of accountability and justice within the sphere of Iraqi governance and its external ramifications.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
