Iraqi court sentences Kata'ib Hezbollah member to 15 years for kidnapping American journalist

The Central Criminal Court in Baghdad has sentenced Amir Rahim Jabbar Lazem to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the kidnapping of American journalist Shelley Keltelson. Lazem, identified as a member of the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia, was convicted under Iraq's counter-terrorism law.

Keltelson, an independent journalist, was abducted in central Baghdad on March 31. She was subsequently released by Kata'ib Hezbollah on April 7, with the group stating the release was in appreciation of the Prime Minister's positions, though reports suggest the release followed American threats of military action and sanctions.

The sentencing is being viewed by some as a sign of judicial independence in Iraq, following a high-profile incident that prompted many foreign journalists to leave the capital.