Iraqi blogger outspoken about country’s corruption detained

In this Oct. 6, 2019 file photo, anti-government protesters set fires and close a street during a demonstration in Baghdad, Iraq. A family member of Shujaa al-Khafaji, a popular Iraqi blogger, said authorities have detained him, apparently over his coverage of anti-government protests. (AP)

• Al-Khafaji, 29, runs a popular Facebook page called “Brothers Iraq” that focuses on human rights violations
• The relative said Al-Khafaji received threats from unknown people in recent days warning him not to publish posts about the protests

BAGHDAD: A family member of a popular Iraqi blogger says authorities have detained him, apparently over his coverage of anti-government protests.
The family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said heavily armed masked gunmen stormed the apartment of Shujaa Al-Khafaji in Baghdad at dawn Thursday and took him away.
Al-Khafaji, 29, runs a popular Facebook page called “Brothers Iraq” that focuses on human rights violations.
On Tuesday the Facebook page, which has 2.1 million likes, posted a video that showed what it said were people setting a checkpoint on fire after the protesters had left. It blamed government supporters for the fire.
The relative said Al-Khafaji received threats from unknown people in recent days warning him not to publish posts about the protests.