At around 1.30 a.m. on January 16, 2015, members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) wearing black uniforms raided Ahmed Al Obaidi’s home in Baqubah before arresting him along with his brother Akram Al Obaidi. They were forced into official vehicles and taken to an unknown location. The arrest was witnessed by the neighbours.
The SWAT forces operate under the authority of the ministry of Interior.
A week following the arrest of the two brothers, their family reported their disappearance to the police in Baqubah, to no avail. Ahmed and Mohammed’s fate and whereabouts remain unknown to date.