Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 1

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

113 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the assassination of the Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq Al-Sadr and his two sons in Iraq (details supplied); and the steps, if any, taken by him and his Department to raise this matter. [7335/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I am appalled at the reports of the murder of the Iraqi Shia leader, Ayatollah Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, and his two sons on 19 February in Najaf in southern Iraq.

According to these reports the ayatollah had recently publicly challenged the Iraqi regime's continuing imprisonment of Shia clergy. His demand that they be released apparently attracted considerable public support. There have also been reports that there were demonstrations during his funeral which were met by severe restrictions by the Iraqi security forces, reportedly resulting in still further deaths.

This is not the first murder of a Shia clergyman in such circumstances. In the past twelve months two other prominent ayatollahs were killed in the same area and there have been attacks on two others.

The Government utterly condemns such gross violations of human rights. Such acts reflect the broad policy taken by the Iraqi regime towards dissidents. This has been the subject of repeated criticism by the international community. I will ensure that the matter of the murder of Ayatollah Al-Sadr as well as the appalling human rights record of the Iraqi regime will be raised at the forthcoming session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights which will commence later this month in Geneva.