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Iraqi ambassador to Egypt Pursues Father”s Murderers in Iraqi Courts | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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London and Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- Showing faith in the Iraqi justice system, the political activist and appointed Iraqi ambassador to Egypt, Safiya al Suheil, revealed to Asharq al Awsat that her family have lodged a complaint, in the Iraqi courts, against officials in the former regime for the murder of her father, sheikh Talib al Suheil, an opponent of Saddam Hussein, by Iraqi secret agents, in Beirut in 1994.

Al Suheil was responding to statements by Iraq’s Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zibari, published in this newspaper earlier this month, advising the family to resort to the courts.

She said, “We thank the Foreign Minister, Mr. Zibari for his advice. My family intends to follow modern ways to investigate the murder, which is why we are resorting to the courts. We trust they are free and impartial.”

Criticizing the recent mission of Iraqi diplomat Awad Fakhry, to Beirut , where he was ambassador at the time of the when the murder, al Suheil said, “Minister Zibari ought to have taken into account the politically motivated murders carried out by those who used to call themselves diplomats under the old regime.”

She added,” It is the responsibility of officials elected by the people of Iraq to ensure justice for the families of the victims. Keeping the suspects in their administrative positions without holding them to account is not acceptable. The delay in examining all the cases is due to the current situation in the country.”

In an interview published on 14th September, 2005 in Asharq al Awsat, Zibari had attacked media reports exaggerating the family’s reaction to the case of the Iraqi diplomat. He added, “The Egyptian authorities had not yet confirmed Safiya sl Suheil as the Iraqi ambassador. It is incorrect to say that she had refused to assume her responsibilities because of a certain person traveling to Beirut.”