Another COVID death.
ALSUMARIA notes the passing here. ALMADA notes she began her career at the age of 16, working for IRAQI RADIO.
In other news, THE NEW ARAB notes:
In what is now becoming an increasingly common phenomenon, anti-Iranian sentiment has spiked in Iraq, after the murder of a prominent dissident and critic of the Iranian regime. Protests have racked Shia shrine cities in what has been described as a prelude to a summer of discontent and violence.
While Iraq deals with internal instability resulting from Iranian ambitions and interference, it is also being utilised by Iran as a "neutral" ground for conducting quiet negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh's willingness to negotiate with Tehran largely stems from the fact that it feels bereft of an ally in Washington.
The oil-rich Arab kingdom seemingly backing down in the face of Iranian ascendancy, coupled with American isolationism and withdrawal, leaves Iraq in a precarious situation in which it will struggle to extricate itself from Iran's orbit.
Violent protests have continued unabated in several Shia-majority cities since a well-known political activist and anti-government critic was murdered by suspected Iran-backed Shia militias in the early hours of 9 May.
Ihab al-Wazni, a coordinator of protests in the Shia shrine city of Karbala, was a vocal opponent of corruption, the stranglehold of Tehran-linked armed groups, and Iran's influence in Iraq.
He was shot to death at night outside his home by men on motorbikes in an ambush caught on surveillance tapes. His death has been confirmed by security forces and fellow activists.
Wazni narrowly escaped death in December 2019, when men on motorbikes used silenced weapons to kill fellow activist Fahem al-Tai as Wazni was dropping him off at his home in Karbala, where pro-Tehran armed groups are legion.
Both men were key figures in a national protest movement that erupted against government corruption and Iranian interference in Iraq in October 2019. More than 600 people have been killed as a result – many on the streets during rallies, others targeted on their doorsteps, away from the demonstrations.
Protests broke out in Karbala, Nassiriya, and Diwaniya in southern Iraq in reaction to Wazni's killing, as people called for an end to the bloodshed and rampant corruption, as well as an end to the impunity enjoyed by Shia militias.
In a video recording from the morgue where Wazni's body was initially held, a fellow activist made it clear who he and colleagues blamed for the killing.
"It is the Iranian militias who killed Ihab," said the unnamed activist. "They are going to kill all of us! They threaten us and the government remains silent."
The assassination of Wazni was followed 24 hours later with the attempted murder of journalist Ahmad Hassan who was shot in the head as he arrived home in Diwaniyah. Hassan has undergone brain surgery and remains in critical condition at a Baghdad hospital.
Ihab is only the latest activist to be killed in Iraq. And no one's ever punished. A few rods are uttered, promises to catch the killers and no one is ever punished.
Dalia al-Aqidi (ARAB NEWS) adds:
Despite being filled with thousands of surveillance cameras, main streets and popular squares have witnessed political and human rights activists being gunned down, with the executioners always vanishing into thin air, filled with confidence that their images would never be caught on tape.
Only last week, activist Ihab Al-Wazni, who was leading protests in the Iraqi city of Karbala, was assassinated in front of his own home by a motorcyclist. Al-Wazni’s neighborhood is one of the most protected areas due to its proximity to Shiite holy sites.
Al-Wazni, like millions of other Iraqis, yearned for a homeland that gives his children hope for a brighter future. A previous attempt to kill him in 2019 did not stop him from continuing to stand against tyranny. He was vocal about the dangers of the regime in Tehran, about the corruption of the Islamists in his province, and about the importance of maintaining the peaceful and focused nature of the protests.
The assassination process in Iraq starts with one of two types of fatwa issued by religious politicians like Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, who is known for operating one of the biggest and most brutal pro-Iran militias in the country. The Mahdi Army (Saraya Al-Salam), which was created in July 2003, is responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people around the country. It is led by ruthless thugs. Al-Sadr was once wanted for his role in the assassination of senior Shiite cleric Mohammed Baqir Al-Hakim in the city of Najaf. Ironically, he described Al-Wazni’s murder as a “cowardly” act, calling on the government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The first type of fatwa is a general order to punish, kill or kidnap anyone who does not show support for the Popular Mobilization Forces or criticizes its leaders. Basically, it is a license to kill. The second type is a specific order to assassinate a certain individual who is causing irreparable harm to the reputation of Al-Sadr or other militia leaders. The leaders develop a plan to monitor the victim’s movements, pick the method of execution, and then assign the location, date and time, as well as the assassin.
Security and extremism expert Hisham Al-Hashimi was previously assassinated in front of his home in Baghdad in July 2020, but still the government of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi has failed to stop the series of deaths.
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