Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani welcomed Iraqis released from Saudi detention after their safe return to Baghdad. He emphasized the importance of respecting the laws and customs of host countries to avoid legal troubles abroad.
On Tuesday evening, al-Sudani sent a delegation led by his chief of staff, Ihsan al-Awadi, to Riyadh. The team received the detainees and accompanied them back to Iraq on a special flight the same day. This move highlights the Iraqi government’s commitment to protecting its citizens overseas.
Independent Iraqi lawmaker Raed al-Maliki, who has closely monitored the case, confirmed that authorities released the detainees. In a recent Facebook statement, he wrote, “They have released these young men.” He added, “They will return to Iraq in the near future.”
Earlier, al-Maliki revealed that Saudi Arabia detained nine Iraqis during the Umrah pilgrimage without filing formal charges. He described the cases as administrative or legal issues rather than political or criminal matters. Al-Maliki accused Saudi authorities of mistreating the detainees and warned that the unresolved situation could trigger public outrage.
Furthermore, Iraq’s embassy in Riyadh maintained regular communication with Saudi officials to secure the detainees’ release. “We hope to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to protect the rights of Iraqi citizens abroad,” al-Maliki said.
Prime Minister al-Sudani also met with families of the detainees on August 23. During this meeting, he stressed the government’s responsibility to safeguard Iraqis living abroad. His office stated, “The government, from its responsibility toward Iraqi citizens everywhere, is responsible for their security, interests, and protection from emergencies.”
In addition, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein pledged to personally follow up on the case. On September 7, he met with the detainees’ relatives and said Saudi officials had expressed readiness “to make every effort to secure the release of the detainees and their return to the homeland.”
Al-Maliki, a member of parliament’s legal committee, clarified that authorities did not accuse the detainees of political or criminal offenses. Officials arrested some for possessing photos of Shiite figures like Muqtada al-Sadr or Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah. They detained others for taking pictures at the al-Baqi cemetery during religious visits.
He described these arrests as “arbitrary measures.” Al-Maliki argued that the detainees could have been warned or deported instead of being held for almost a year. This prolonged detention sparked significant concern among Iraqi citizens and lawmakers.
In conclusion, the return of the Iraqis released from Saudi detention reflects ongoing diplomatic cooperation between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The Iraqi government continues to emphasize the protection of its citizens and aims to prevent similar incidents in the future.
