By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On June 13, Iraq held a state funeral for Sunni Leader Harith al-Obeidi after his assassination on June 12.  Al-Obeidi was the leader of the largest Sunni bloc in the Iraqi Parliament.  He was known for his strong stance on human rights issues.  He argued for the rights of many Sunni detainees in Iraq, a controversial issue between the Sunni minority and the largely-Shi’ite government. 

Al-Obeidi’s assassination took place outside a mosque in Baghdad, where he had just finished giving the sermon at the Friday afternoon services.  A teenaged gunman shot al-Obeidi twice in the head, and then opened fire on al-Obeidi’s guards.   He then ran down the street, and detonated a grenade on his own body, killing himself and several bystanders. 

The Interior Ministry of Iraq released a report stating that they believe that the assassination was orchestrated by al Qaida.  Ministry officials refuse to elaborate, saying that there would not be more information until a more thorough investigation had been completed.  However, there is speculation that al-Obeidi’s assassination was planned to aggravate tensions between Sunni and Shi’ite communities. 

Al-Obeidi was known for his attempts to unify the factions within the Iraqi parliament.  According to Shatha al-Abousi, another Sunni lawmaker, al-Obeidi wanted national unity.  Al-Abousi also explained that al-Obeidi, an avid human rights supporter, disclosed information about the torture and mistreatment that had taken place in Iraqi prisons.  Both Sunni and Shi’ite government officials from all over the country came to show their respect for al-Obeidi at his funeral. 

The assassination comes just one day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned that there may be an increase in violence in the coming months.  U.S. troops are scheduled to withdraw from urban areas by June 30, and there is concern that violence will increase without the extra military assistance.  Furthermore, elections are scheduled for January of next year, and there is concern that there will be an increase in assassination attempts before the election.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Iraq Blames al-Qaida for Sunni Killing – 13 June 2009

Los Angeles Times – Leader of Iraq Parliament’s Arab Bloc Assassinated – 13 June 2009

Reuters – Iraq Holds State Funeral for Murdered Lawmaker – 13 June 2009

Voice of America – Iraqi Leaders Mourn Slain Sunni Lawmaker – 13 June 2009

Associated Press – Iraq: Senior Sunni Lawmaker Killed Outside Mosque – 12 June 2009