(AINA) -- In the early morning of March 22 a group of Kurdish soldiers abducted James Al-Bazi from his house in the Tel Kef district in North Iraq, reports the Assyria National Assembly. Mr. Al-Bazi, a Christian Assyrian (also known as Chaldean and Syriac), was blindfolded and severely beaten for 90 minutes. He was released later in the morning. No reason was given for his arrest.

Mr. Al-Bazi was involved in a minor scuffle with his friend, who some say reported the incident to the Peshmerga (the Kurdish militia). Community leaders have discounted this and say that the Peshmerga does not involve itself in the affairs of the Assyrian people in their villages and is not a police force. Assyrians point out he actions of the Peshmerga undermine the police force.

Three other Assyrians in Tel Kef and other Assyrian areas were also arrested and beaten, under pretense of not carrying their identity cards when standing next to their homes.