Iraqi Writer Killed by 13 Bullets in Karbala

Alaa Mashzoob, an Iraqi writer and literary figure known locally as the 'brave writer' and 'taboo breaker,' was shot dead by unknown assailants on Saturday evening, February 1. Local media reported that the 51-year-old Mashzoob was attacked by two armed assailants on a motorcycle near his home in the Bab al-Khan area of central Karbala after attending a literary meeting. After firing 13 bullets at him, the attackers fled the scene. Ammar al-Masoudi, head of the Union of Writers and Authors in Karbala, stated at a press conference that Mashzoob had participated in the weekly literary meeting held at the union but left before the end due to 'commitments.' He called for an investigation into Mashzoob's assassination and punishment for those responsible. Alaa Mashzoob had criticized Iran and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, in some of his Facebook posts, stating that 'Khomeini was in Iraq, went to Kuwait, then Paris to incite a revolution in Iran, and then went to Iran to fight a country that had hosted him.' Qasim Mashzoob, Alaa's brother, told several Iraqi media outlets, including 'aliraq.net,' 'Is it fair to assassinate anyone who speaks out against corruption? Corruption that has led to a major disaster in my country.' He emphasized that his brother was not involved in any tribal disputes or political parties, stating, 'My brother Alaa, like many other writers and journalists, criticized and exposed corruption.' Alaa Mashzoob was born in 1968 and obtained his PhD from the College of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 2014. He was a member of the Iraqi Artists Union, the Iraqi Journalists Union, and the Iraqi Writers and Authors Union. Several books, short story collections, and articles remain from Alaa Mashzoob, who also received several local and regional literary awards, including second place in the 'Tourism Literature' award for his book 'Capitals of Iran.' The assassination of Alaa Mashzoob has sparked outrage among Iraqi writers, artists, and intellectuals, who have expressed their disgust at the incident in interviews and on social media, calling for relevant authorities to pursue the matter. Meanwhile, some Iraqi activists have accused militia groups of being behind Mashzoob's assassination. The Karbala police announced that they have begun investigating Alaa Mashzoob's murder. In their statement, the Karbala police emphasized that they will deal 'with an iron fist' with the perpetrators of the Iraqi writer's assassination and bring them to justice. In the past two years, several civil, artistic, and literary activists or beauty salon owners in Iraq have been assassinated, including Iraqi artist Karrar al-Nushi, who was killed in Baghdad two years ago. Last year, Iraqi model Tara Faris and two owners of a beauty center were also killed. The perpetrators of these assassinations have yet to be identified.