Iraqi judiciary sentences kidnapper of US journalist to 15 years in prison

Shelly Kittleson. Photo: Facebook Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq’s Central Criminal Court sentenced Amir Rahim Jabar Lazim, a member of the Iran-backed group Kataeb Hezbollah, to 15 years in prison under the country’s anti-terrorism law for kidnapping US journalist Shelly Kittleson on March 31. Kittleson was kidnapped during the daytime on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad. Armed gunmen pushed her into a silver vehicle, while another getaway car crashed during the escape. Iraqi security forces intercepted the crashed car and arrested Lazim. The US journalist was kept hostage for more than a week when Kataeb Hezbollah freed her in early April ahead of a US-Iran ceasefire. Kittleson, who has extensively covered the Middle East for publications like the BBC and Politico, expressed her gratitude to the Iraqi justice system on X and affirmed her right to seek compensation. This decision marks a rare court step against a major, Tehran-aligned armed group in Iraq. The verdict comes at a critical time for Iraq’s new government, led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, which is under intense pressure from Washington to disarm pro-Iran militias and place all weapons under strict state control. The effort to disarm Kataeb Hezbollah has pushed Iraq into a severe security and political crisis, as the group has rejected the government’s disarmament mandates and vowed to expand its military arsenal.