News of a deadly shooting targeting well-known Iraqi historian and political commentator Hisham Al-Hashimi and ending in his assassination last night in a Baghdad street broke out. Friends of the late researcher and analyst accused Iran of killing him, despite an announcement by the terrorist group ISIS claiming the assault.
The series of assassination continue in Iraq for honorable people for reporting the truth #هشام_الهاشمي pic.twitter.com/77TdMgh98J
— vian (@vian27252017) July 6, 2020
A short video footage showed 47-years-old Al-Hashimi's last moments as he was approached by two gunmen near his home on Monday evening.
The Iraqi expert on terrorist organizations, who served as a counter-terrorism expert to the Iraqi government, was a frequent TV figure as he appeared on a regular basis on several Arabic-speaking news outlets to offer in-depth analysis of Iraqi affairs, especially ones related to Iranian militias and ISIS.
In his last tweet only a few minutes before he was killed, Al-Hashimi referred to "Iraq's deep political divisions amongst Shia, Sunni, Kurds, Turkman and other minorities," saying that "such labels were brought to the country by the US occupation."
تاكدت الانقسامات العراقية ب:
— Husham Alhashimi هشام الهاشمي (@hushamalhashimi) July 6, 2020
1-عرف المحاصصة الذي جاء به الاحتلال "شيعة، سنة، كرد، تركمان، اقليات" الذي جوهر العراق في مكونات.
2-الأحزاب المسيطرة "الشيعية، السنية، الكردية، التركمانية.." التي أرادت تاكيد مكاسبها عبر الانقسام.
3-الأحزاب الدينية التي استبدلت التنافس الحزبي بالطائفي.
Translation: "Iraqi divisions are confirmed as follows: 1- the quota system brought by the occupation "Shia, Sunni, Kurds, Turkmens and other minorities" which has become the essence of Iraq. 2- Dominant parties that want to ensure their gains through the "Shia, Sunni, Kurds, Turkmens..." division" 3- Religious parties where competition has become about religious sects and not the political parties."
A truly barbaric way to silence a voice who longs for prosperity.... rest in peace! #هشام_الهاشمي pic.twitter.com/gHVTU0letL
— Shad Rashed (@RashedShad) July 6, 2020
On the morning of his death, the slain historian also tweeted in rejection of the pro-Iranian narrative that "the fight against the US and the Gulf countries is about dignity and sovereignty and not about power and wealth."
يُريد المغرر بهم إقناع فقراء الشعب العراقي بأن الحرب مع أمريكا والخليج هي حول مبادئ الكرامة والسيادة، وليس حول توزيع النفوذ والثروات.
— Husham Alhashimi هشام الهاشمي (@hushamalhashimi) July 5, 2020
معظم تجار الحرب الصغار يمتلكون ثروات كبيرة جمعوها خلافًا للقانون، وأما كبارهم فهم مثل الديكتاتوريات يعتقدون ان كل العراق ملكهم وورثهم.
Translation: "Illusioned people want to convince the poor of Iraq that the fight against the US and the Gulf countries is about dignity and sovereignty and not about power and wealth. Most small warlords have huge fortunes allocated via illegal means, while the big ones are so much like dictators who think they've inherited Iraq and that they own it."
However, an announcement posted on ISIS's "Amaaq News Agency" claiming responsibility for the attack, was disregarded by some of Al-Hashimi's friends, who revealed that he had already received multiple death threats from pro-Iran militias; especially after he voiced out his opposition of the Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah's involvement in politics in the country.
Friends of Al-Hashimi expressed their fear that pro-Iranian militias might be using ISIS name as a cover-up for such assassinations, in order for it to get rid of critical well-heard voices, especially as pro-Iran social media users launched the hashtag (#سلمت_يد_الكتايب: Thanks to Al-Kata'ib ) "thanking" Kata'ib Hezbollah minutes after Al-Hashimi was announced dead, saying that "the brave brigades work in silence."
الدكتور #هشام_الهاشمي أبلغ رفاقه قبيل مقتله أنه تلقى رسائل تهديد بالقتل من كتائب حزب الله في العراق.
— Nabil El Halabi (@NabilElHalabi1) July 7, 2020
بعد ساعات على إغتياله يتبنى تنظيم داعش الجريمة !
هل الأمر بات واضحٌ الآن أن راعي #الإرهاب في العالم هو النظام الإيراني ؟ أم سنحتاج الى مزيدٍ من الجرائم المماثلة ليتحرك العالم ؟!
Translation: "Doctor Hisham Al-Hashimi had told his friends that he had received death threats from Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq. Now, only hours after the crime, ISIS has claimed responsibility. Isn't it clear that the Iranian regime is the actual supporter of terrorism in the world? How many more crimes like this do we need so the world can actually take action?"
اشرف من ايران
— محمد رضا (@BbeaNUKgANq2aSW) July 6, 2020
واشرف من دم الخمنائي
وشرف من دم سليماني #سلمت_يد_الكتايب pic.twitter.com/GXCUuAXXAa
Translation: "He's more honorable than Iran, Khamenei, and Soleimani"
I cant sleep tonight knowing my dear friend was assassinated!
— Hanar Marouf (@Hanar_Marouf) July 6, 2020
Just lately we were joking about who from us will get corona virus first! I didn’t know you will leave that soon. It was so early! #Iraq was in a dire need for loyal people like yours. #هشام_الهاشمي pic.twitter.com/MMkzc1p1r1