“Thanks be to God, he survived terrorists this time. We do not put any blame on anyone… except unknown terrorists,” Ravand Bashar told Rudaw.
His father was seized on the road from Karbala to Baghdad after he had attended a memorial service for a colleague. The kidnappers were in four vehicles and they took only Mustafa, letting others traveling with him go, his son detailed.
Bashar said his father is in good condition.
“I have talked with him on phone… He is in good condition. His health is very good. I mean, they have not harmed him.”
NOCI released a statement on Wednesday morning, before his release, expressing their concern and calling for his safe release.
“The Committee stresses its continued contact with relevant security authorities. It calls for the preserving of the safety of Mr Bashar Mustafa, a peaceful sport personality who has provided more to Iraqi sports and has reached out to many.”
Mustafa, 60, has been the deputy head of NOCI since 2009. He has been an athlete all his life, playing volleyball and basketball, in addition to boxing. He is also head of Iraq’s boxing federation.
The identity of the parties responsible and the motive for the kidnapping is not clear at this time.
