Iraqi jihadist expert Hisham al-Hashemi murdered in Baghdad

AFPTV screen capture from a video made on February 11, 2019 showing Iraqi jihadism expert Hisham al-Hashemi during an interview in Baghdad. AFPTV / AFP

Text by: Lucile Wassermann Follow

1 min

In Iraq, researcher Hisham al-Hashemi, internationally recognized for his expertise in jihadist movements, was assassinated in the center of Baghdad on Monday evening by unidentified men. RFI regularly interviewed him on the air to decipher the situation in Iraq. In Baghdad, the announcement of his death was a real shock.

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From our correspondent in Baghdad,

It took a few moments before the news was confirmed. Moments when his friends, many researchers or journalists, did not want to believe it. But around 9:00 p.m. local time, it was General Saad Maan, Director of Communication for the Interior Ministry, who officially announced: Hisham al-Hashemi was assassinated. He was leaving his home east of Baghdad when gunmen on motorcycles shot him. Transferred to hospital, he did not survive his injuries.

Security expert, specialist in jihadist movements, Hisham al-Hashemi was regularly consulted by political figures. He was a recurring guest of local and international media, an essential figure to understand Iraq today. A father, he was also known and appreciated for his kindness and modesty.

In the past few months, Hisham al-Hashemi has commented extensively on the Iraqi protests. He denounced Iran's stranglehold on Iraq and the ethnic quotas of the Iraqi political system. His last tweet, moments before his death still made reference to it.

Today, it is a large circle of Iraqis, but also analysts, researchers, politicians, international journalists who mourn the man and regret the expert.

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  • Iraq
  • Terrorism
  • EI