An Australian man of Lebanese origin has been detained in northern Iraq by Kurdish militiamen and Australian officials are investigating whether the detainee has links to terrorists, Kurdish and Australian officials said Sunday.
"Y'ain't from around here, air yew?"
"Crikey!" |
Ahmed Jalal, 22, was recently arrested by members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Sulaimaniyah, 160 miles northeast of Baghdad. The official said Jalal was arrested because his brother is believed to be detained in Lebanon in relation to terrorist activities.
"Hey! Just 'cuz he's involved with turbans don't mean I am!"
"Oh, yeah? Whaddya you do for a living?"
"I work for an Islamic charity!"
"Book him, Mahmoud!" |
Julie McDonald, a Canberra-based spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that a Sydney man had been detained by the PUK in northern Iraq. "This matter is under investigation by proper authorities who are looking into possible terrorist connections of the detained 22-year-old," McDonald said without identifying him or elaborating further. McDonald said Australian officials in Baghdad had learned of the man's arrest on Nov. 30 from the International Committee of the Red Cross and that his relatives in Sydney, Australia's largest city, have been notified. |