ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A few dozen friends and admirers of Husham al-Hashimi gathered in Erbil’s Sami Abdulrahman Park on Saturday to pay their respects for the slain Iraqi security analyst.

Hashimi, 47, an outspoken critic of Iraq’s armed Shiite militias, was assassinated by unknown gunmen in front of his Baghdad home on Monday. He was buried in the holy city of Najaf on Tuesday. 

"Today, some of Dr. Husham’s friends gathered here to pay their respects and appreciation to all of his work and to show how much we love him from Kurdistan and how much we were shocked with what happened,” said Hanar Marouf, who helped organize the memorial that was kept small and simple because large gatherings are not advised during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Our message here is to show that freedom of expression and freedom of the press will continue no matter what. No matter what will happen, we will continue the fight that Dr. Husham really wanted to see. And hopefully all those who were with this assassination [will face] justice, [will] be found in front of the court soon,” said Marouf.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi vowed Hishami’s killers will be brought to justice. His death has stirred fears Iraq may be entering a new violent phase.

Photos by Bilind T. Abdullah
With reporting by Shahla Omar