Speculation Mounts in Iraq Over Maliki’s Health
Across the Iraqi media, speculation has been rife about the current health of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, with conflicting reports from government and opposition sources.
On May 10, 2013, conflicting news reports about Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki suffering from a health problem were rampant in Baghdad, while speculation about what kind differed.
On that day, the Islamic Supreme Council was holding a memorial service on the anniversary of the martyrdom of its former leader, the late Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim. Maliki was supposed to attend the event and deliver a speech.
Hakim was a Shiite leader who stood out in 2003 as one of the most prominent leaders in the opposition to Saddam Hussein’s regime. In 2004, as he emerged from the gold-domed shrine of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb in Najaf, where he was delivering a speech before his supporters, a massive car bomb exploded.
Iraqi leaders made a point of attending the memorial ceremony and delivering emotive speeches to commemorate Hakim. Maliki, however, was absent because of illness. He sent Ali al-Adib, minister of education and prominent leading member of the Dawa Party on his behalf.
