Aqila Hashemi buried in al-Najaf
Iraq, Politics, 9/27/2003

The Iraqis yesterday bid farewell to member of the Interim Governing Council Aqila Hashemi in a funeral held for her in Najaf city after a security problem between fighters supporting the Shiite man of religion Muqtada al-Sader and the American forced prevented the holding of a joint prayer for the Shiite and the Sunni for "Hashemi" in al-Kazemeyah mosque in Baghdad.

The occupation forces arrested four supporters of al-Sader who were among a group called "security committees" formed by al-Sader in the context of "al-Mahdi army." The group blocked the way before an American force composed of two armored vehicles and one armored vehicle which tried to enter the surrounding of al-Kazemeyah mosque in order to reach Hashemi funeral procession. Hundreds of participants in Friday's prayers and gunmen gathered in front of the American forces chanting "No to America, yes, yes to Islam."

Negotiations were made and resulted in releasing the four men and the departure of the Americans from the place, according to al-Sader office but the funeral procession did not return to the mosque and headed directly to Najaf. An official in al-Sader office said that the "demonstrators called for releasing the four detained men to permit the funeral procession just for a short time." The official added "the four men were released but the funeral procession did not proceed."

Muqtada al-Sader accused the US forces of killing Hashemi which it described as from "the national leaderships," though it had considered the governing council as an element in the "hands of the Americans."

In his sermon at al-Koufa mosque, al-Sader said "Assassination acts which claimed national leadership is an attempt from the occupation forces to empty Iraq from its national leadership." Hashemi died on Thursday because of the wounds she suffered in the assassination operation which targeted her one week before. Members of the governing Iraqi council bid farewell to the funeral procession before it had left Baghdad while a statement by the council said that Hashemi is "a martyr of the militant struggle for freedom and democracy."

The funeral procession stopped in front of the tomb of Imam Ali before it proceeded to the cemetery. Scores of cars for the Iraqi police ran in front of the procession and the funeral was held in the presence of just one member of the governing council Muhammad Baher al-Oloum in addition to the governor of Najaf, Mahdi Matar al-Mayali.

Previous Stories:
  Iraq interim council claims no disagreement with US on authority transfer   (9/26/2003)
  Some 8 Iraqis died in a bloody day; Aqila Hashemi dies, Washington asks for help   (9/26/2003)
  Hashemi health deteriorate; Sultan Hashem protected, more army reserves summoned   (9/25/2003)

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