UN SRSG in Karbala visits Ihab al-Wazni's family and meets with his mother

Shafaq News/ Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, paid a visit to the residence of the assassinated Iraqi activist Ihab al-Wazni and met with his mother and family members.

The UN SRSG disembarked earlier today, Wednesday, in the Najaf airport.

A source told Shafaq News Agency that UN SRSG will head to Karbala and convene with the Governor and a group of activists and demonstrators, as well as the mother of the assassinated activist al-Wazni.

Ihab Jawad al-Wazni, who was active in the organization of the anti-government protests that swept Iraq in October 2019, was shot dead on May 10 outside his home by unknown assailants. His death sparked protests in Karbala that saw demonstrators block roads and bridges with burning tires.

Al-Wazni had led protests in the Shia shrine city of Karbala, where pro-Iran armed groups hold major sway. He was shot outside his home by men on motorbikes using a gun equipped with a silencer in an ambush caught on surveillance cameras.

In December 2019, al-Wazni survived an assassination attempt by unknown assailants in which a 53 years old father was killed.

Yesterday, security authorities reportedly blocked Karbala's entrances and prohibited entering the city, and troops entrenched the streets of the holy Shiite city.

A security source said that the purpose of this move is to halt demonstrators from outside the city from floating inside and participate in al-Wazni's mother's vigil.

On Sunday, the family of Ihab al-Wazni accused the judiciary and Karbala's local government of covering up for the suspects involved in the assassination of her son.

Earlier in that day, security forces in Karbala prevented the mother of al-Wazni from setting a tent near the court building.

The brother of the martyr al-Wazni told Shafaq News Agency, "there is an obvious complacency on the part of the judiciary to reveal the accused," stressing, "some accusees have been released."

"The judiciary must be fair. However, what is happening today in Ihab's case is the opposite," he noted, "the security forces today prevented his mother from a sit-in in front of the court building. This violates Article 38 of the Iraqi Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful demonstration."

"SWAT forces prevented everything, even drinking water, during the demonstration, and these forces are affiliated with the governor of Karbala," he said.

The brother of the martyr Al-Wazni asserted, "the sit-in will continue until the killers are revealed," adding, "the government and the judiciary did not respond. We will reveal further steps in time."