Iraq May Execute MP For Israel Visit
By HERB KEINON - (JPost)
First his two sons were murdered. Now he faces prosecution. The reason for Mithal al-Alusi’s troubles? Visiting Israel and advocating peace with the Jewish state - something Iraq’s leaders refuse to consider.
The Iraqi is at the center of a political storm after his fellow lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to strip him of his immunity and allow his prosecution for visiting Israel - a crime punishable by death under a 1950s-era law. Such a fate is unlikely for al-Alusi, though he may lose his party’s sole seat in parliament.
Because he had visited Israel, many Iraqis assume the maverick legislator was the real target of the assassins who killed his sons in 2005 while he escaped unharmed.
Now he is in trouble for again visiting Israel and attending a conference a week ago at the International Institute for Counterterrorism.
“He wasn’t set to speak, but he was in the audience and conversed with a lecturer on a panel about insurgency and terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel,” said conference organizer Eitan Azani. “We didn’t invite him. He came on his own initiative.”
Al-Alusi has a German passport, allowing him to travel without visa restrictions imposed on other Iraqis. Lawmakers accused him of humiliating the nation with a trip to the “enemy” state.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor called the reaction to al-Arusi’s visit “very
distressing” and said it was sad this was the response to someone who merely visited
Israel and was interested in a dialogue with it.
“It is very unfortunate that the reaction was so violent and aggressive,” he said. “It
adds nothing.”
Palmor said Israel was appreciative of al-Alusi’s “courage,” and that the reactions to his visit were an example of the extremism that was plaguing that country and leading to so much bloodshed there.
The uproar shows how far Iraq has moved from the early US goal of creating a democracy that would make peace with Israel and remove a critical force from the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The US Embassy declined comment. “It is an issue for the Iraqi parliament, not the US Mission to Iraq,” said spokesman Armand Cucciniello.
“What has happened was a catastrophe for democracy,” Al-Alusi told The Associated Press in an interview in his Baghdad home. “Within an hour’s time, the parliament became the policeman, the investigator, the judge, the government and the law. It was a sham trial.”
Al-Alusi said he went to Israel to seek international support for Iraq as it struggles against terrorism, and insisted that the outcry reflected Iranian meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs - an accusation often leveled by Sunnis like himself against Iraq’s mostly Shi’ite neighbor.
“Iran is behind Hamas and Hizbullah and many other terrorist organizations. Israelis are suffering like me, like my people. So we need to be together,” he said. “Peace will have more of a chance.”
Iraq sent troops to three Arab wars against Israel, and fired Scud missiles at it in the 1991 Gulf War. It remains technically at war with the Jewish state. Iraq’s once-thriving Jewish community has shriveled to just a few people, most having fled after Israel was established in 1948.
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Well, baby steps. They aren’t attacking Israel, sending terrorists, and an Iraqi MP went to talk with them, so clearly there is *some progress*. A lot of this, of course, is just the typical rage and venting of hot air Arabs like to engage in. This probably won’t amount to anything.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:59 pmTo add: Al-Alusi is definitely someone to watch.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:01 pmA single voice of reason. I truly hope they do not succeed in silencing him.
Let’s make Iran a memory. I think that will cure a lot of the world’s problems.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pmMay God Almighty watch after this man.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 pmFour responses, on Dollard (!), that are cautious. Mine is the fifth. This doesn’t need to be hyped; we’re all following it and paying attention.
There is no reason to post this headline and hype the anti-Iraq pont of view. There is every reason to follow this story, closely. Carefully.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:33 pm“Al-Alusi has a German passport…”
But he’s a Muslim?
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:33 pmYeah?
See ya.
I am not sure of your second guessing of the story title.
I didn’t change it from the original source’s title.
However, I believe the title is important. Iraq, although quite progressed since our liberating their country and showing them the way to democracy and becoming part of the whole world, must be reminded that some of their remaining law fly in the face of the progress they hope to keep making. Israel IS a real entity in the Middle East. To simply pretend or wish them “non-existent” is unreal.
This man is a singular example of the paradox Iraq still finds itself in. Iran is meddling mercilessly within their country … Iran is focusing it’s scope on Israel. Israel seems to be the only country in that half of the world taking Iran’s threats to themselves … and to the rest of the world … seriously.
This man, I believe, has shown more diplomacy and serious consideration of his country’s sovereignty than perhaps Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki. The fact that he has lost his two sons already, and might well lose his own life, if not that of other family members, proves this man IS serious about his country and what direction he not only wants to see Iraq go in, but who he feels he can obviously trust in that journey.
So, yes, while the title is titillating, it is also perfectly succinct in yanking TPTB inside Iraq to realize, while not suicidal, there is an Iraqi man that is being threatened by all sides … and he only has his country at heart.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 pmEgyptian President Anwar Sadat was killed by members of the Muslim Brotherhood for seeking peace with Israel. I would say al-Alusi is also considered a threat to those Muslims who are seeking world domination. I hope he has numerous bodyguards.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:38 amI wonder. If there ever was a war between Iraq and Israel, who’s side would we take?
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 amEverytime I read a story like this it makes me question why we help a “moderate” muslim country. We better really get our money’s worth out of this war, we too are “kaffir” to these adherents to the “religion of peace”.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 amDespite all the good we’re doing there, sometimes… I really do think we’re wasting our resources there. I don’t trust Muslims.
Hopefully, I am wrong, and we really can make more progress out of this. If there is ever a time to at least attempt to do something about the anti-Semitism within their government, now is the time to make it happen.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 am