London Observer: Kidnappers target youth of Baghdad

[Jack Rabbit]

From the London Observer (Sunday supplement of the Guardian Unlimited)
Datre sunday February 29

Kidnappers target youth of Baghdad
Gangs shift from carjacking to abducting the children of wealthy families, with ransom demands of $50,000
By Peter Beaumont in Baghdad

The clothes eight-year-old Ali Fadhil was wearing when he was grabbed by kidnappers from the street near his home in the wealthy Zayouna neighbourhood of Baghdad were left outside his mother's door on Friday. She had washed them overnight before showing them to us yesterday - a pale blue Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms.
They were filthy when she found them, stinking from her youngest son's captivity, somewhere in the city. But it was her first intimation in two weeks that Ali might still be alive.
Wafa Fadhil has all but given up hope that police can find him. Instead she is gathering the money being demanded for his release: 'five books' - Baghdad slang for $50,000 - is the going rate for kidnapped children. Anecdotal evidence suggests most gangs settle for $15,000. 'We will negotiate, of course,' she said, 'but we will pay the money. We will do anything to secure his release.'
As we speak, an elder son sits by her. Fourteen-year-old Isa Fadhil knows all about the kidnap gangs that roam this city, targeting the children of the wealthy, the moderately wealthy or families of those with whom they have a grudge. For he too has been kidnapped.

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This is life in colonial Baghdad.

[Darranar]

1. "Liberation."