Former Iraqi MP and her lawyer shot outside Baghdad court in family dispute

BAGHDAD – Former Iraqi MP Manahil Jalil Al-Humaidawi and her lawyer, Hossamdin Abdul Latif Jassem, were injured in a shooting outside Al-Shaab Court in Baghdad on Thursday, allegedly carried out by the brother of Al-Humaidawi’s ex-husband, an officer in the Federal Police, according to security sources speaking to 964media.

The attack occurred following a dispute between Al-Humaidawi and her ex-husband’s family. Both the former MP and her lawyer were rushed to the hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds. The shooter was arrested at the scene, and the weapon was confiscated.

The Iraqi Bar Association condemned the attack and expressed concern over the injury to Jassem. The association confirmed it is working with security forces to ensure the perpetrator faces justice. “The safety of lawyers while performing their professional and legal duties is of the utmost priority,” the association said in a statement, calling for stronger protections for lawyers.

The Bar Association also called for stronger legal and security protections for lawyers, underscoring its commitment to ensuring justice and safeguarding its members. “We stand firmly with our colleague, and we thank God for his safety,” the statement added.

This incident follows a string of similar attacks on legal professionals in Iraq. In August, lawyer Ahmad Abbas Kazem Al-Asadi was found dead in his office near the Kadhimiya Investigative Court. A month later, on Sept. 25, lawyer Haider Sahi was shot and killed near the Al-Haydariya Courthouse in a targeted attack.