Lawyer assassinated near Najaf courthouse, suspects arrested

NAJAF — A lawyer named Haider Sahi was shot and killed on Wednesday in a targeted attack near the Al-Haydariya courthouse, north of Najaf. The assailant, who was on a motorcycle, carried out the attack in broad daylight before fleeing the scene.

Najaf Police Chief Alaa Al-Fatlawi confirmed that several suspects have been arrested. “At approximately 12:30 p.m., we received a report of the assassination near the courthouse. Based on witness testimony, we were able to quickly identify and arrest multiple suspects, with one fleeing toward Karbala but later captured,” Al-Fatlawi told 964media.

The motive for the killing appears to be related to legal disputes Sahi was involved in. Al-Fatlawi added, “It seems the incident stemmed from personal disputes tied to court cases between the victim and the suspects.”

The Iraqi Bar Association condemned the killing in a statement, noting that Sahi had received threats linked to his legal work in recent months. “The threats were an attempt to intimidate him into withdrawing from certain cases,” the association said.

The association also urged authorities to ensure the safety of legal professionals, citing concerns over the rising threats and attacks on lawyers handling sensitive cases. “We are in direct contact with security authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” it said.

This incident follows the assassination of lawyer Ahmad Abbas Kazem Al-Asadi in August, whose body was discovered in his office near Baghdad’s Kadhimiya Investigative Court. Two suspects were arrested in connection with that case, but details about the motive have yet to be released.