Iraq: the opening of the trial of the assassination of Hisham al-Hashemi expected this Monday

The funeral of Hisham al-Hashemi in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, July 7, 2020. REUTERS / Alaa al-Marjani

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Hisham al-Hashemi's assassination trial is due to begin on Monday.

This distinguished researcher, specialist in jihadist networks and regularly interviewed by the international media was assassinated on July 6, 2020 in Baghdad.

The trial of his alleged murderer is particularly awaited by the population.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Baghdad

,

The images of his assassination had caused a shock wave beyond the borders of Iraq.

During his lifetime,

 knew he was threatened, but had never wanted to leave Baghdad, his native city.

And this, even a few months before

when he had received explicit death threats from pro-Iran armed factions.

After having worked for a long time on the jihadist movements, Hisham al-Hashemi had chosen to focus his research on the Shiite militias close to Tehran.

In 2019, during the revolt that shook Iraq for several months, he took a stand in favor of the movement and openly criticized the Iranian stranglehold on the country.

During this period, many activists, journalists or researchers were murdered in the country.

Very few murderers have been found by the authorities, but that of Hisham al-Hashemi could be one of them.

A suspect is in any case behind bars.

A policeman by profession, he would be close to the Hezbollah brigades.

His trial is expected on Monday, after being postponed last December.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_EN

• Iraq

• Justice