Today was one of the worst days in the life of the western side of Baghdad. An Iranian official who started his visit to Baghdad yesterday decided to visit the holy shrine of Imam Mousa al Kadhim in Kadhemiyah neighborhood. For the sake of the guest, all the roads were blocked and hundreds of different security forces spread everywhere. And for his sake also, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis couldn't go to their schools, offices and stores. For the sake of the guest, the taxi drivers could earn a penny to their families. For the sake of the guest, my uncle who suffers a heart failure and came from another province to go to a hospital in Baghdad had to make a long trip to reach the hospital and I don't know whether he caught his turn or not and for the sake of the guest,I had to pay extra money to the taxi driver to get me to the office because my driver couldn't leave his house.
I don't know if the authorities and the governments in the world do the same thing when a guest visit their countries. As much as I know, the governments consider the comfort of their people a main job and priority but if the government doesn't care then who should? It would be really unacceptable if people have to stay homes and security forces block the roads for every guest or foreign official visit Iraq.
I hope that our government's guest never come at day. I would really LOVE them if they visit us at night. I know our work as journalists will be so hard but at least we will be the only people who suffer because the majority of Iraqis will be home watching TV (if they have power)
I read this article, I really wish I could have spoken with the author directly.
Posted by: hollister uk | July 19, 2010 at 12:09 PM
The terrorism case against Mansour Rabadi was dropped due to ;ackof evidence. Then Akabi opened fraud and embezzlement charges - Akabi missed a oouple of court appearances and case was delayed for two more months - then a new judge was about to rule and the case was taken over by the highest judge in the land, Madhat Al-Mahmoud. Why? Why the new delay? Rabadi has not been convicted of any of Akabi wild charges in over 100days. Mansour is a 62-year-old Jordanian diabetic now hed with about 45 common criminals in a 10 meter-7 meter room. DO the math. The conditions are inhuman. Why this for an innocent man.
Posted by: John Lyons | June 19, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Tomorrow it will be one mnth since Mansour Rabadi - a JOrdanian Christian - 62 years old - sick - was imprisoned on accusations of Terrorism. To imprison a man who can't and won't be a terrorist for a whole month. Why did his company instigate this? How can ALMCO CEO and Board sleep at night with this on their consciences? HOw has Mansour been able to sleep in such a terrifying situation under such a terrible charge? The USA should know about this situation brought about through a company that has had so many contracts worth hundreds of millions> Does General Michael Eyre know about this???
Posted by: John Lyons | April 04, 2009 at 11:57 AM
two attempts to get Iraq red crescent to check on Mansour rabadi - imprisoned/isolated - heis a diabetic - has had a stint inserted in a heart artery - has high blood pressure. we fear he might have been tortured. @ letters ignored bythem
Posted by: John Lyons | March 19, 2009 at 04:11 PM
The Iraq law has been posted on the internet. It is such a travesty to have an accused person so isolated from family and lawyer. The question of physical and mental torture is foremost in my mind. I have tried contacting red cross red crescent in the area but so far no response. What is going on? Where are the basic human and legal rights of Mansour Rabadi?????? Who cares????? I do and his family does and he does.
Posted by: John Lyons | March 19, 2009 at 03:05 AM
Iraqi law states that the accused should have the right to a fair trial - the accused has the right to a lawyer of his choice and if he has no money he should get a court-appointed lawyer - the lawyer should have the ability to communicate with him freely and privately. Since Mansour Rabadi has been so isolated, we hired alawyer - who could not find him. At the prison he had been in they said he wasn't on their computer. Why has not the Red Cross or Red Crescent tried to make sure he gets his medicines and isn't tortured? Iam Mansour's sister.
Posted by: Mary jubrail rabadi | March 19, 2009 at 02:58 AM
A government should protect its foreign workers - case of Mansour Rabadi in Iraq. He was taken on way to airport allegedly to a prison on MARCH 6, 2009. His family hired a good Iraqi lawyer but he had to wait till today to see Mansour. At the prison, he was told that Mansour is not even on the computer. CEO, Namir Akabi, said he pressed charges against Mansour for fraud. After almost 14 days in isolation and terror, Mansour has been moved somewhere unknown - I heard that even the two Jordanian embassy employees have not been able to see him. Why???!!! Is there embarrassing evidence of duress or even torture to get "evidence"? What is his fate. Pray for Mansour Jubrael Rabadi. Thanks
Posted by: Mary jubrail rabadi | March 18, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Yes I know Mansour Rabadi - he is my younger brother. I maintain he is not a terrorist as we heard was the charge. HE was forced into Kadhimiya prison - I am worried about the way he has been treated in total isolation. His company could have processed any charges in the lasttwomonths - he could not leave the country because they had asked for his passport. Isn't that against the law. Then conveniently after he got total clarance from the ministries, he was forced to Kadhimiya and arrested and kept isolated from us. Our embassy tried to get in touch with him and is on the case. What is left of my brother now? What have they done to him. If his CEO, Namir ElAkabi is behind all of this planning and charges, then I pray he is exposed. In news articles it said that he started about 10 years ago with 500 dollars - it also said in a recent interview that he saidhe turns over about 300 million a year. Why doesn't America vet these people. Is this the new Iraq that Americans died for andpaid for? Save my brother.
Posted by: Mary jubrail rabadi | March 15, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Where is Mansour Rabadi? Why is being held in Kadhimiya? Poor unlucky guy - he should have left when the rest of his project team left. After over a week of incarceration, we still have no solid news about him. He is a diabetic - how will he get medicine to save his life? After a week of isolaation in Iraq's infamous prison system, will we get forced confessions from him. Save his life please.
Posted by: John Lyons | March 15, 2009 at 03:12 PM
COntinuing on the poor accountant. He is a Christian - attend an evangelical church in Amman- he is 63 years old - has had heart problems and is a diabetic.
I don't want him to be the "fall guy" for some company.
Posted by: John Lyons | March 07, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Ask about the human rights of a JOrdanian accountant - being charged as a terrorist at the instigation of the CEO of ALMCO.
The victim, Mansour Jubrail Rabadi, had nothing against him and had been cleared for an exit visa last Wednesday. On his way to the airport, he was forcibly detoured by the security team(kidnapped?)to a police station outside the green zone and charged as a Terrorist level 4. WHy was he cleared to leave by gov't. Why wasn't he arrested in the GreenZone. Jordanian Embassy is working so hard to help and assure his health and safety.
Posted by: John Lyons | March 07, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Dear friends,
Take a quick look at the "ABOUT THIS BLOG" section, in the uppper right corner of this page. it reads:
"Inside Iraq" is a blog updated by Iraqi journalists working for McClatchy Newspapers. They are based in Baghdad and outlying provinces. These are firsthand accounts of their experiences. Their complete names are withheld for security purposes.
Just note the very last 2 words --> "Security Purposes".
As a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I apologize you Mr. Author, on be half of the Iranian Official, for whose sake, the "western side of Baghdad" experienced one of its "worst days".
I hope that the day comes when we, as Muslim brothers and sisters, stop accusing each other and unite against the common enemies. I'm 100% sure that unity among Muslims will bring freedom and peace to Iraq, the cradle of civilization.
Posted by: Ali | March 07, 2009 at 01:34 AM
Do you mean when Osama bin laden became a president of Afghanistan that the USA government should protect him when he came to visit USA, as a part of diplomatic traditions?
I don't think that diplomacy has anything to do with such killers and terrorists.
Posted by: jamal | March 06, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I believe no matter what country you are in, any government with foreign guests will try as hard as possible to protect its guests. That is natural. And that is a fact. Whether that guest has committed something bad to the country before or not. That is how diplomatic relations work.
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Posted by: Sterling Silver | March 06, 2009 at 12:10 AM
this is the man who with his criminal teacher (khomainy)represent the worst theocratic dictatorship in the world waging the war on Iraq in 1980 and releasing the slogan of (the big Satan)on USA it is a shame that with the blood and money of the American people such a criminal enter our beloved capital as a guest.
Posted by: jamal | March 05, 2009 at 12:56 PM
I live in New York City and we have the UN headquarters here. Believe me when I say we suffer this same stuff all the time when foreign visitors come, and they come often. Whenever our president comes to town they shut down the whole eastern part of Manhattan. You are not alone.
Posted by: Adrian | March 04, 2009 at 08:19 PM
When the Pope visited Boston in the late 1970s, people were similarly inconvenienced, including many Jews who were not allowed to attend synogogue on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, because a large area was blocked off for the Pope's security.
I guess governments have a vested interest in being sure that visiting dignataries make it out alive!
Posted by: Jane | March 04, 2009 at 07:32 PM
This is the sign of the Iraqi hospitality. You are right in saying it appears to be extreme but that is the way we do things in Iraq.
Regarding the above comment I am not at all sure how it relates to the article.
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Posted by: Abdul Ali | March 04, 2009 at 05:12 PM
And no-one died. Don't complain. In the 1980's Iraq was at war with Iran. Now you have an Iranian official as a guest. It is better to be inconvenienced than to be killed.
Posted by: Terry | March 03, 2009 at 09:44 PM