Iraq Launches Investigation Into 'Farhatia Massacre'

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi chairs a meeting of security and military officials in Saladin, Iraq, October, 18, 2020 | Photo: Iraqi PM Office

The Farhatia massacre in Iraq’s Saladin Governorate, which involved the kidnapping of 12 civilians and the execution of 8 of them, is still occupying Iraqi's attention, whether on social media or through the reactions of political forces and parties.

In this regard, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi visited the governorate on Sunday, attended the funeral of the victims, and also met with the security and military leaders.

He affirmed that terrorism awaits only law and retribution, and there is no place for its return under any form or name. “The state will protect the citizens of Saladin, and the doctrine of the armed forces is wrapped around loyalty to the homeland and the law, not to individuals or other names,” the PM said.

During the weekend, Kadhimi had established a special investigative committee to look into the “criminal incident” while Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad al-Halbousi issued an order to form a parliamentary committee to investigate facts about the circumstances of the crime.

The fact-finding committee chaired by the head of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee and the membership of a number of members of the committee and representatives of Saladin Governorate, visited the scene of the crime on Sunday to prepare a report on the circumstances of the incident.

While none of the investigative committees had announced the party that committed the massacre, some media outlets quoted the victims’ families accusing the Popular Mobilization Forces’ 42nd Brigade of standing behind the crime.

Meanwhile, all 12 deputies from the governorate demanded on Sunday that the PMF’s armed factions leave Salah al-Din.

The deputies stressed that after the Al-Farhatia massacre, it has become unacceptable that armed groups continue to control security decisions and prevent security forces from carrying out their duty to protect citizens.

In a statement read by MP Muthanna al-Samarrai, Saladin's deputies emphasized that crimes by armed groups linked to some parties require the government to take a firm and real stance.