Eifan Saadoun Al Issawi

Eifan Saadoun Al Issawi
Born1975 or 1976
Died15 January 2013 (aged 37)
Fallujah, Iraq
Cause of deathAssassination
Resting placeFallujah
NationalityIraqi

Eifan Saadoun Al Issawi (1975/1976 – 15 January 2013) was an Iraqi politician who was killed in a suicide bombing attack on 15 January 2013.

Early life[edit]

Issawi was born into a Sunni family belonging to the Albu Issa tribe.[1] Rafi Al Issawi, Iraqi finance minister, is also a member of the tribe.[2][3]

Career[edit]

During the Iraq war, Issawi acted as one of the leaders of the Sahwa movement or the Awakening Council, which cooperated with the U.S. military to defeat Al-Qaeda members in Iraq.[4][5] The movement is also known as Sons of Iraq.[6]

Issawi was the head of the provincial committee of security and defense in Anbar.[7] He joined the Iraqi parliament in August 2011 as deputy for Al Anbar Governorate.[8][9] He was part of the Iraqiyya bloc to which Rafi Al Issawi also belongs.[10][11] The Iraqiyya bloc is mainly backed by Sunni Iraqis.[1] In addition, Eifan Issawi served as a member of the parliament's security and defense committee.[12]

Assassination and funeral[edit]

Issawi was assassinated by a suicide bomber in Fallujah, Anbar province, on 15 January 2013 at the age of 37.[3][10] He was on his way to participate in an anti-war demonstration in Fallujah.[11] The bomber, who disguised himself as a construction worker,[1] approached Issawi and then blew himself up, killing three bodyguards of Issawi as well.[11][13] The blast also killed three laborers[11] and injured others in the scene.[1][14]

A funeral ceremony for him was held in Fallujah on 16 January.[8] Three mourners were injured in a bombing attack at the funeral.[15]

Perpetrators[edit]

On 20 January 2013, Al Qaeda's political front in Iraq, The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), claimed responsibility for the assassination of Issawi.[6][16]

Reactions[edit]

The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement and strongly condemned the assassination of Issawi.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Bill Ardolino (15 January 2013). "Suicide bomber kills Iraqi lawmaker who was prominent Awakening leader, and 5 others". Long War Journal. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  2. ^ Whittle, Thomas (16 January 2013). "Suicide bomber kills Sunni lawmaker in Iraq's Falluah". NZ Week. Ramadi. Xinhua. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b Al Bassam, Ali (16 January 2013). "Deadly Wave of Attacks Strike Iraq". Impunity Watch. Baghdad. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  4. ^ Griffis, Margaret (15 January 2013). "Sunni Lawmaker Among 13 Killed in Iraq". Anti war. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  5. ^ Birgit Svensson (4 May 2013). "Tensions rise between Iraq's Sunnis and Shiites". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Iraq's al Qaida claims responsibility for wave of deadly attacks". Eastday. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  7. ^ Dan Zak (16 October 2011). "Iraq's Anbar province fears future squeeze". Seattle Times. Al Asad Air Base. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  8. ^ a b "A bomb, targeting the funeral of Eifan al-Issawi, injures two". National Iraqi News Agency. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  9. ^ Silverstein, Amy (15 January 2013). "Iraq lawmaker killed by suicide bomber". Global Post. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Iraq Sunni MP killed by suicide bomber". BBC. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  11. ^ a b c d Qassim Abdul Zahra (15 January 2013). "Ifan Saadoun Al Issawi, Iraqi Lawmaker, Killed In Suicide Bombing". The Huffington Post. Baghdad. AP. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Turkey condemns the assassination of Al Issawi". Shafaq News. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  13. ^ "Intelligence Academy Chief Killed". The Guardian. 16 February 2013. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  14. ^ Wahda Al Jumaili denies accusing Finance Minister in killing Eifan Al Issawi National Iraqi News Agency. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  15. ^ Margaret Griffis (16 January 2013). "Iraq Slaughter: 55 Killed, 288 Wounded". Uruk Net. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  16. ^ Ardolino, Bill (20 January 2013). "Al Qaeda claims assassination of MP Aifan Sadoun; Sunni Awakening leader blames Iran". Long War Journal. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
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