Alleged killer of prominent Iraqi analyst sentenced to death

Nearly three years after Hisham al-Hashimi’s murder, an Iraqi court sentenced the alleged killer to death on Sunday.

According to Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, a criminal court sentenced police officer Ahmed Hamdawi Al-Kinani to death for killing the analyst after convicting him of terrorism. After his arrest two years ago, a video of al-Kinani confessing was published, although many think he had armed group support.

Al-Hashimi’s family was delighted with the verdict, but a relative suggested the assassins’ orders should also be prosecuted.

“Until now, we have not learned who is backing the killer of Hisham al-Hashimi and who gave the orders to execute,” they claimed, speaking anonymously for fear of armed groups.

Sunday’s family worried about the Court of Cassation pardoning or commuting his sentence.

After receiving threats from Iran-backed militias, two motorcycle-riding assailants killed Al-Hashimi, 47, in front of his Baghdad home in July 2020. His murder was caught on surveillance footage and sparked an atmosphere of terror among activists who accused the government of failing to control powerful armed gangs. Al-Hashimi, a TV analyst, counseled the U.S.-led coalition during its years-long fight against the Islamic State organization.

He spoke out against Iran-backed militias after IS’s territorial collapse in December 2017.

In a 2021 state media video, Al-Kinani described himself as an Interior Ministry first lieutenant. Two security officials informed The Associated Press that he was linked to a militia group after his arrest.

His confession denied armed group ties.

The Court of Cassation will review Sunday’s verdict.

Many government and security officials have ties to the Iraqi state’s armed militias. Thus, successive governments have been condemned for letting them function freely.

During a 2019 assault on a huge protest movement in Iraq, Iran-backed militias killed activists and other critical voices. Before his death, similar groups allegedly threatened Al-Hashimi.