The Iraqi National Security Service announced today, Saturday, the arrest of 39 members of "Al-Qurban Group" in four provinces. The service stated in a press release that its teams in Wasit Province, based on judicial arrest warrants, were able to apprehend four suspects belonging to a deviant religious movement that calls itself "Al-Qurban Group."
It explained that the arrests took place following intelligence information indicating the suspects were located inside a small tent near processions during the visit on the 10th of Muharram, and that they possessed images of an individual who had committed suicide earlier. After conducting investigations, they openly admitted to their affiliation with this deviant movement and intended to perform their extremist rituals through a lottery of sacrifice, whereby a person is chosen to hang themselves to death.
Additionally, the service's teams in the provinces of Basra, Al-Muthanna, and Al-Diwaniyah, southern Iraq, arrested 35 suspects belonging to the same group. The suspects have been referred to the relevant judicial authorities to take necessary legal action against them, according to the statement.
In recent months, cities in southern Iraq have recorded about 12 suicide cases among members of this group, most of whom left written messages indicating they were "sacrifices for Imam Ali." Furthermore, their posts on the TikTok application show some of their leaders with unusual names and titles, such as "Servant of Ali," "Sacrifice of the Son of Al-Hassan," "Abulio," and "Abu Qambar."
This group has raised concerns among the Iraqi public, particularly as it targets teenagers. In the middle of last month, a 15-year-old committed suicide by hanging using an electrical wire inside his home in Al-Rifai district, northern Dhi Qar Province in southern Iraq.
