Hisham al-Hashemi’s assassination trial is due to begin on Monday. This distinguished researcher, specialist in jihadist networks and regularly interviewed by the international media was assassinated on July 6, 2020 in Baghdad. The trial of his alleged murderer is particularly awaited by the population.
With our correspondent in Baghdad, Lucile Wassermann
The images of his assassination had caused a shock wave beyond the borders of Iraq. In his lifetime, Hisham al-Hashemi knew he was threatened, but had never wanted to leave Baghdad, his hometown. And this, even a few months before his murder despite receiving explicit death threats from pro-Iranian armed factions.
After having worked for a long time on the jihadist movements, Hisham al-Hashemi had chosen to focus his research on the Shiite militias close to Tehran. In 2019, during the revolt that shook Iraq for several months, he took a stand in favor of the movement and openly criticized the Iranian stranglehold on the country.
During this period, many activists, journalists or researchers were murdered in the country. Very few murderers have been found by the authorities, but that of Hisham al-Hashemi could be one of them. A suspect is in any case behind bars.
A policeman by profession, he would be close to the Hezbollah brigades. His trial is expected on Monday, after being postponed last December.