Baghdad candidate warns of sectarian incitement as investigation into killing of Al-Hijazi continues

BAGHDAD — Yahya Rasool, former military spokesperson for the Iraqi armed forces and current parliamentary candidate on the State of Law list, warned of sectarian incitement and political interference in the wake of the killing of Baghdad council member Safaa Al-Hijazi, also known as Safaa Al-Mashhadani.

“There is an attempt to ignite sectarian strife,” Rasool said during an interview with Iraq 24 TV, adding that “some political blocs are trying to sway citizens through sectarian incitement.”

Rasool called for transparency in the investigation, saying, “The public must be informed about what is happening.” He added that past investigative committees “sometimes do not produce results that convince public opinion.”

Rasool described Al-Hijazi as “a man who worked for his people,” and said the attack was likely tied to his growing prominence in Tarmiyah district, Baghdad.

Al-Hijazi was also a candidate in Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections, set to take place on November 11. He was killed in a car bombing.

The blast injured four others in the vehicle. The Baghdad Provincial Council has declared a three-day mourning period following his assassination.

UNAMI condemned the bombing that Al-Hijazi. In a statement, it called on Iraqi authorities to “conduct a swift and transparent investigation to hold to account perpetrators of this crime.”

Excerpts from Yahya Rasool’s interview with Iraq 24 TV:

Mercy and eternity to the hero Safaa Al-Mashhadani. I have been following the reactions in Tarmiyah and the stance of our noble Arab tribes in this district, where the man contributed greatly.

Regarding the committees (the committee investigating the killing of Al-Mashhadani), unfortunately, they sometimes do not produce results that convince public opinion. We must be honest with our people—we are going through a difficult phase, and these elections are not easy, with political money and money from outside Iraq involved.

On this case and others, the public must be informed about what is happening.

At times, I was present in high-level security offices that witness certain matters, and sometimes the public is not accurately or thoroughly informed of the truth for fear of serious negative consequences.

At this moment, the country cannot withstand such crises, and there is an attempt to ignite sectarian strife. I have seen some political blocs trying to sway citizens through sectarian incitement.

I believe we must reach the perpetrators, and I have great confidence in the security agencies. According to my information, some preliminary findings have been reached.

My analysis is that the target was a man who worked for his people, and the reason for the attack was that his prominence had significantly increased in his area.