Iraqi doctors are being targeted by kidnappers
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《英国医生杂志》
Media sources, including the Arab television station al Jazeera, have reported a spate of recent kidnappings of Iraqi doctors. The Iraqi Medical Sciences Association, an organisation of Iraqi doctors working in the United States and located in West Bloomfield, Michigan, knew of 24 prominent doctors who have been kidnapped in Baghdad alone over the past three months.
Dr Shawqi Halabu, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, and secretary of the association, said that a surgeon, whom he did not wish to name, was kidnapped a month ago in Baghdad by one of the roving gangs who target wealthy victims for ransom. After his family paid the ransom of $40 000 (33 000; ￡22 000) the doctor was released, but he left the country. His present whereabouts are unknown.
Dr Halabu also told of another wealthy doctor in Baghdad who, despite having two armed bodyguards, was kidnapped last March. However, most Iraqi doctors lack the money to hire such security and are seen as "soft" targets.
A source in England, who prefers to remain anonymous, said that these criminal gangs can operate because of the lack of security in Iraq.
Dr Akif al Lalousi, a pathologist and committee member of the Baghdad based Iraqi Medical Association, was reported by the US politics-related website Polit-Info.com as saying, "We saw a series of kidnappings going on with very carefully selected figures, which would have a lot of impact on society. They were kidnapped, asked for ransom, and when they were released they told their colleagues and they had to leave the country."
The Iraqi Medical Association is still in Baghdad but is difficult to communicate with; its building was partially destroyed by bombing.(Fred Charatan)
Dr Shawqi Halabu, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, and secretary of the association, said that a surgeon, whom he did not wish to name, was kidnapped a month ago in Baghdad by one of the roving gangs who target wealthy victims for ransom. After his family paid the ransom of $40 000 (33 000; ￡22 000) the doctor was released, but he left the country. His present whereabouts are unknown.
Dr Halabu also told of another wealthy doctor in Baghdad who, despite having two armed bodyguards, was kidnapped last March. However, most Iraqi doctors lack the money to hire such security and are seen as "soft" targets.
A source in England, who prefers to remain anonymous, said that these criminal gangs can operate because of the lack of security in Iraq.
Dr Akif al Lalousi, a pathologist and committee member of the Baghdad based Iraqi Medical Association, was reported by the US politics-related website Polit-Info.com as saying, "We saw a series of kidnappings going on with very carefully selected figures, which would have a lot of impact on society. They were kidnapped, asked for ransom, and when they were released they told their colleagues and they had to leave the country."
The Iraqi Medical Association is still in Baghdad but is difficult to communicate with; its building was partially destroyed by bombing.(Fred Charatan)