Islamic State in Diyala finance cells with ransoms: MP
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Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State in Diyala are relying on kidnappings of civilians and outcoming ransoms to finance their fighters, an Iraqi parliament member has said.
Furat al-Tamimi, an MP from Diyala, was quoted by Alghad Press saying that IS has recently escalated kidnappings of civilians to fund its cells both inside and outside the province.
Captives’ relatives are obliged to transfer ransoms through banking offices to other provinces, the MP said
“Daesh (Islamic State) has recently kidnapped several people from Qurra Tabba and Hamreen Basin, killing some and setting others free in return for huge sums from their relatives,” he stated.
Tamimi pointed out to “confirmed information “ that some of the areas to which the ransoms were remitted were in the northern provinces in Kurdistan Region. He urged security authorities and intelligence services to further scrutinize money transfer offices to counter what he described as “money laundering” activities by “outlawed groups”.
According to Alghad Press, a local source in Diyala was quoted earlier on Monday saying IS had released two captives, after more than one month since their kidnapping, in return for USD15.000.
IS militants have reportedly lost most of their funding resources since U.S.-backed Iraqi forces launched offensives targeting militants-held havens in October.
Reports have talked about illegal means through which the militants funded their operations in Iraq, including the confiscation of civilian properties, antiquities traffick, organs trade and illegal sale of petroleum.