Iraqi elections marred by hit squads targeting candidates
Amid rising assassination attempts of candidates for today’s Iraqi parliamentary elections, some political blocs are accusing parties in the government of being behind these operations.
On March 25, three candidates for the parliamentary elections in Iraq were subject to an assassination attempt in Diyala province. The candidates miraculously survived.
In the same month, a candidate from the Mutahidoun bloc, led by parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, was killed in an armed attack by unknown assailants north of Ninevah. Moreover, Abdul Karim Dosari, another candidate of the Mutahidoun bloc, was assassinated in the city of Basra along with two of his bodyguards on April 27.
After these events, assassination attempts targeting candidates continued. Some survived these attempts, such as Sadrist movement member of parliament (MP) Maha al-Duri, who is known for attacking other blocs and exposing corruption. Other candidates were killed by explosive devices and pistols outfitted with silencers.
These targeting operations made some political parties fear increasing assassinations as the elections scheduled for April 30 got closer. Moreover, these targeting operations opened the door to accusations against security authorities of standing idly by.
