MPs push for answers: Will engineer Basheer's report be revealed today?
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iraqi lawmaker Mohammed Al-Khafaji warned he would go public with the findings of a parliamentary fact-finding committee if its report on the controversial death of engineer Basheer Khaled Lateef is not presented in today's parliamentary session.
Speaking to Shafaq News Agency, Al-Khafaji said the report was completed on Saturday and submitted to the Speaker of Parliament.
'We informed the presidency of the Council of Representatives, and we were expecting the report to be on Monday's session agenda,' Al-Khafaji said. 'But I was surprised it wasn't included.'
He stressed that the Speaker and his deputies had been notified of the "need to present the report during today's session."
Engineer Basheer Khaled Lateef died on April 7 from what authorities claimed was kidney failure while in custody at Baghdad's Hatteen police station. His death ignited nationwide outrage after a video surfaced showing him being assaulted inside the station before his transfer to the Interior Ministry's central prison.
Amid mounting public outrage, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohsen al-Mandalawi on April 10 directed the Parliamentary Order No. 63 Committee to summon all officers and commanders linked to the case. He also ordered the committee to deliver a detailed report to parliament's leadership to pave the way for decisive action.
A security source told Shafaq News on Saturday that Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari had established high-level committees to carry out sweeping reforms across police stations and departments. The source noted that new appointments would be driven by professionalism, integrity, and investigative expertise.
The source emphasized that the newly formed bodies rank among the largest investigative committees in the Interior Ministry's history.
In a related shake-up, Al-Shammari dismissed Major General Khalid al-Muhanna, the ministry's Director of Relations and Media, and appointed Brigadier General Muqdad Miri as his replacement. Miri will also assume duties as the ministry's official spokesperson.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi Defense Minister: Coalition presence in Syria "necessary"
Shafaq News/ Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi on Friday said the presence of Global Coalition forces in Syria remains necessary, noting that Iraq's security is closely linked to stability in its neighboring country. In an interview with Al Arabiya, al-Abbasi confirmed that coordination with the US-led coalition remains intact, adding, 'Baghdad has not received any official notification regarding changes to the withdrawal schedule of coalition forces from either Syria or Iraq.' The minister stressed that the continued presence of US and coalition forces in Syria remains 'necessary to confront remnants of the terrorist organization, which still poses a cross-border threat.' Currently, around 2,500 US troops remain stationed in Iraq, with approximately 900 deployed in Syria. Discussions on the future of these forces have been ongoing for months.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Syria reactivates key industrial facilities as economic rebuilding efforts intensify
Shafaq News/ The Syrian Ministry of Economy and Industry is moving forward with plans to rehabilitate and restart critical industrial plants, Hasan Al-Ahmad, Director of the Media Office at the Ministry, told Shafaq News. Al-Ahmad revealed that several major facilities have recently resumed operations, including the Hama Iron Plant and the Damascus Cables Factory, along with other strategic assets. 'These facilities are currently undergoing technical evaluations to assess their readiness for flexible and efficient investment models,' he said, adding that the goal is to maximize operational efficiency and ensure these assets contribute effectively to economic recovery. Supporting the national production, Al-Ahmad stressed, remains a cornerstone of Syria's industrial strategy. 'We want Syrian-made products to compete confidently in both domestic and international markets.' Regarding the Ministry's primary focus for the coming phase, it is 'to elevate the standards of the national industry, positioning it as a benchmark for quality and export potential.' This, he said, would help stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, and strengthen public trust in local manufacturing. Syria's economy has been in a state of collapse since the outbreak of mass protests and civil conflict in 2011. A recent joint report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and UNCTAD, published on January 25, 2025, and titled 'Syria at a Crossroads: Toward a Stable Transition Phase,' highlighted the challenges facing the Syrian economy and outlined scenarios for its potential recovery. According to the report, a recovery scenario assumes successful reconstruction efforts, governance reforms, and sufficient international aid, particularly in the fields of agriculture, industry, and energy. Under this model, Syria could regain up to 80% of its pre-war GDP by 2030, provided the country maintains an average annual growth rate of 13% over the 2024–2030 period. Even in this best-case scenario, per capita income would still reach only half of its 2010 level.
Iraq Business
3 hours ago
- Iraq Business
Businessmen Arbitrarily Detained in Iraq Released
By John Lee. Ireland's Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, has confirmed the release on bail of Robert Pether, an Australian engineer resident in Ireland, who has been imprisoned in Iraq since 2021. The announcement comes following a phone call from Iraq's Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, who personally informed the Tánaiste of the development. Pether, who remains in Iraq for now, has been at the centre of an ongoing diplomatic effort by the Irish government. Minister Harris described the release as " very welcome news " in what has been a " long and distressing saga " for Pether's wife and family. The Tánaiste also thanked Irish diplomatic staff in the region for their continued support and advocacy. He reiterated concerns about Pether's health and outstanding legal charges but expressed hope for a positive resolution and Pether's eventual return to his home in Roscommon. Pether and his Egyptian colleague, Khalid Radwan, were detained in April 2021 in relation to a dispute over the construction of the new Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) headquarters in Baghdad. They have been sentenced to five years in prison and jointly fined $12 million on charges of fraud. Their families claim they were tricked into travelling to Iraq to attempt to resolve the dispute. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that they were " arbitrarily detained on discriminatory grounds ", and referred the case to the Special Rapporteur on torture. In February 2023, the International Chamber of Commerce's (ICC) Court of Arbitration ruled that the CBI was at fault in the dispute, and ordered it to pay $13m to Abu Dhabi-based Cardno ME (CME). The statement from the Irish Tánaiste did not refer to Radwan, but AFP news agency cites an Iraqi official as confirming his release. (Sources: Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; AFP)
