Iraqi court sentences police officer to death for murder of government adviser

An Iraqi court on Sunday executed a police officer who was accused of being the leader of the squad that shot and killed renowned analyst and government adviser Hisham al-Hashemi in Baghdad three years prior.

In July 2020, men riding motorcycles shot and killed Hashemi outside his Baghdad family home. Hashemi had provided government officials with advice on how to fight Sunni Muslim Islamic State militants and reduce the role of Shi’ite militias that supported Iran.

In accordance with Iraqi anti-terrorism regulations, a Baghdad court on Sunday sentenced Ahmed Hamdawi to death, according to a statement from the judicial branch.

Although access to the media was prohibited, a lawyer who was present said Hamdawi made no comments in reaction to the judge’s decision.

According to a Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq spokeswoman in Baghdad, he may challenge the verdict.

A video of Hamdawi claiming to have headed the group that killed Hashemi was shown on Iraqi official television in 2021.

After that, the government representatives called Hashemi’s murder a targeted killing without naming a specific group. Hashemi had written about politics, the Islamic State, and the function of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

Officials from paramilitaries with ties to Iran denied involvement in the murder. His demise was applauded by some Islamic State sympathizers, but the murder was unclaimed.