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Qais al-Khazali: from kidnapper and prisoner to potential leader

This article is more than 14 years old
Cleric and key member of Righteous League portayed as resistance hero with a big political future
Qais al-Khazali in 2004; he is not allowed a direct role in the political process, for now
Qais al-Khazali in 2004; he is not allowed a direct role in the political process, for now. Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Iraq's Shia Islamic groups and political blocs are casting Qais al-Khazali as a resistance hero with a big political future, despite American insistence that the soon-to-be-freed cleric plays no direct role in politics.

Shia political leaders have been anxious to tap into a popular figure ahead of a general election scheduled for 7 March, and Khazali has been courted, while still in prison, to stand for office.

He remains a key member of the Righteous League, which was jointly responsible for the kidnapping of Peter Moore, who was freed in Baghdad within hours of Khazali's transfer to Iraqi custody. The group is now being touted as a political force under national reconciliation banner that the government is trying to promote in advance of the poll.

Khazali's clout stems directly from his patrons in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and in the hardline Shia Islamic state's clergy, which directed and funded the militant group to which he belongs, known as the Righteous League. A highly secretive and disciplined band in the mould of Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Righteous League is a proxy arm of the Revolutionary Guards' al-Quds Brigades, whose main brief is to export Iran's 30-year-old Islamic Revolution. Khazali's rise from a lieutenant when he was arrested by the SAS three years ago to potential leader-in-waiting has been dramatic.

"Qais has already given great service to Iraq, first as someone who served the resistance and then as someone who helped placed pressure on the occupiers to commit to the withdrawal of foreign forces," said senior Shia figure Ali Faisal al-Lami, who is closely aligned to the Righteous League. "He was already politically involved when he was spokesman for Muqtadr al-Sadr and he will resume a political role even if it is not as part of the government."

In 2008 Lami was suspected of links to Moore's kidnapping and spent 18 months in American detention, where he was interrogated by an MI6 officer who was leading the government's efforts to find the IT consultant and his four guards. In prison he spoke regularly to Khazali, along with Khazali's brother Laith and a third man, Lebanese Hezbollah member Ali Mahmoud al-Dakduk. The three were captured by the SAS in March 2007. Moore and his guards were kidnapped two months later, partly to be used as pawns for the trio's release.

The head of the Righteous League's dialogue committee, Salam al-Maliki, confirmed that Khazali would take an interest in Iraqi politics, but from the sidelines, for now. "He will not take a direct role in political process but will support it," he said. "This was one of the conditions in the deal to release all of our prisoners."

The leader of prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's reconciliation committee, Mohammed Suleiman, said: "Qais al-Khazali has committed no crime under Iraqi law and is welcome to play a role in public life as we welcome all groups to be part of the political process."

A senior leader of the Sadrist movement, which has also embraced Khazali, despite him leading a breakaway faction to strengthen the Righteous League, said a hero's welcome awaited the young cleric.

"Them and us are preparing a warm reception for him. He will continue to be respected in his works. He is a good character and has many followers."

The US military accused him of co-ordinating an ambush on behalf of al-Quds brigades that led to five US soldiers being killed in the holy Shia city of Karbala in January 2007. However, even if proven, such an action does not constitute a crime under Iraqi law. Negotiations between the US and Righteous League leaders – usually brokered by Iraqi intermediaries – have focused on stripping the group of its resistance role. American officials have asked it to hand over its heavy weapons, to stop firing rockets at Baghdad's international zone and to support reconciliation.

For two years, Britain and the US have been engaged in a bitter regional power struggle with Iran, with Iraq the main battleground for a proxy war fought on diplomatic and military fronts. Khazali's brother Laith was released from US custody in June and immediately travelled to the Iranian city of Qom, where he was hosted by clergy. Qais al-Khazali is also expected to travel to meet his backers as soon as he is freed, probably within days.

Martin Chulov

Additional reporting: Enas Ibrahim

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