Sunni parliamentary candidate in Iraq assassinated in bomb blast
Ahead of parliamentary elections next month Sunni candidate Safaa al-Mashhadani was assassinated by car bomb in Baghdad. The killing revives fears of politically motivated violence reminiscent of earlier years of sectarian conflict.
Baghdad (dpa) - A candidate for the next Iraqi parliamentary elections was killed when a bomb planted beneath his vehicle exploded north of Baghdad, the Iraqi news agency (INA) reported, citing local security authorities on Wednesday.
Four other people who were in the vehicle were injured in the incident.
Police and local officials said Safaa al-Mashhadani was a member of the Baghdad Provincial Council and a Sunni candidate for the National Sovereignty–Legislative Alliance in November's poll.
Al-Mashhadani’s office accused unnamed political parties of being behind the assassination, describing it as part of a wider “conspiracy” to intimidate candidates and distort the security situation in the Sunni-majority area.
It said the politician had previously survived other assassination attempts.
"Cowardly terrorist act"
Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani condemned the attack as a “cowardly terrorist act” and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He also announced that parliament would form its own committee to investigate the killing. A separate police investigation is under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
The Baghdad Provincial Council declared a three-day mourning period, describing al-Mashhadani as “one of its most competent members” and criticizing the Interior Ministry for failing to provide adequate protection.
The assassination — the first targeting a candidate in Iraq’s November 11 parliamentary elections — revives fears of politically motivated violence reminiscent of earlier years of sectarian conflict.
Analysts warn the killing could deepen divisions between pro-Iran Shia blocs and emerging Sunni alliances competing for influence.