2007 Iraqi Parliament bombing
Encyclopedia
On April 12, 2007, the canteen of the Council of Representatives of Iraq building was attacked by a suicide bomber, killing one MP and wounding 23 other people. The attack, in the heavily fortified Green Zone
of Baghdad
, occurred ten minutes after the Council of Representatives had adjourned for lunch. It was on the first floor of the Baghdad Convention Center, which houses the parliament. Two further unexploded suicide vests were found near the canteen. The building had earlier been searched by dogs - very rare considering dogs are considered ritually unclean by Iraqis - suggesting the authorities suspected an attack was imminent. Following the attack the government closed down mobile phone
networks and Apache helicopters flew overhead.
, a member of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, Taha al-Liheibi
, a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front and an unnamed Kurdish MP.
On April 13, the US military reported that only Awad had died, and that 22 others were wounded.
On April 13, the Islamic State of Iraq
posted a message on an Islamist website claiming to have sent "A knight from the state of Islam... [into] the heart of the Green Zone" to carry out the attack. It is not clear whether this claim is genuine, though some who monitor such websites believe it is.
In February 2009, two bodyguards of Iraqi National Dialogue Front MP Mohammed al-Dayni
were arrested on suspicion of the attacks. Alaa Khairallah Hashim, al-Dayni's security chief and Ryadh Ibrahim al-Dayni, Mohammed al-Dayni's nephew, confessed on television to involvement in several attacks, including the parliament bombing. They said the MP had given authorisation for the bomber to enter the parliament area. The security forces asked the Council of Representatives of Iraq to lift al-Dayni's parliamentary immunity
. Mohammed al-Dayni claimed that the accusations were lies and that his bodyguards had been tortured into making a false confession because he had been disclosing human rights abuses in Iraqi prisons. al-Dayni took a flight to Jordan
, but the aeroplane was forced to turn back; parliament then agreed to lift his immunity.
, the head of Awad's party, called on the United States occupation to overthrow the government of Nouri al-Maliki
The Iraqi Council of Representatives held an emergency assembly the following day in response to the bombing, to "show resilience in the face of such attacks".
US President George W. Bush
condemned the attacks, saying "there is an enemy willing to bomb innocent people and a symbol of democracy". The Iran
ian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ali Hosseini
described the attack as "inhumane and satanic ... target[ting] both its Shia and Sunni officials"
Four days later three Ministers from the Sadrist Movement
quit the government, citing, among other things, the growing insecurity in Baghdad.
Green Zone
The Green Zone is the most common name for the International Zone of Baghdad. It is a area of central Baghdad, Iraq, that was the governmental center of the Coalition Provisional Authority and remains the center of the international presence in the city...
of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, occurred ten minutes after the Council of Representatives had adjourned for lunch. It was on the first floor of the Baghdad Convention Center, which houses the parliament. Two further unexploded suicide vests were found near the canteen. The building had earlier been searched by dogs - very rare considering dogs are considered ritually unclean by Iraqis - suggesting the authorities suspected an attack was imminent. Following the attack the government closed down mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
networks and Apache helicopters flew overhead.
Casualties
Early reports indicated that eight people were killed, including three MPs, and at least 23 people were reported wounded. The MPs named were Mohammed AwadMohammed Awad
Mohammed Awad was a political party member of the Iraqi National Dialogue Council that represented them in the National Assembly of Iraq.On April 12, 2007, he was killed in the Green Zone at the convention centre canteen of the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq, in the 2007 Iraqi Parliament...
, a member of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, Taha al-Liheibi
Taha al-Liheibi
Taha al-Liheibi is an Iraqi politician in the National Assembly of Iraq who is a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front.On, April 12, 2007, he was reported killed along with fellow Sunni Mohammed Awad of the Iraqi National Dialogue Council in the Green Zone at the convention centre canteen of the...
, a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front and an unnamed Kurdish MP.
On April 13, the US military reported that only Awad had died, and that 22 others were wounded.
Responsibility
Suspicions initially centered around the bomber having been the bodyguard of an MP. A government spokesman said "there are some groups that work in politics during the day and do things other than politics at night" Mohammed al-Dayni accused the government of lax security at the site.On April 13, the Islamic State of Iraq
Islamic State of Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq , is an umbrella organization of a number Iraqi insurgency groups established on October 15 2006.The group is composed of and supported by a variety of insurgency groups, including its predecessor, the Mujahideen Shura Council, Al-Qaeda, Jeish al-Fatiheen, Jund al-Sahaba,...
posted a message on an Islamist website claiming to have sent "A knight from the state of Islam... [into] the heart of the Green Zone" to carry out the attack. It is not clear whether this claim is genuine, though some who monitor such websites believe it is.
In February 2009, two bodyguards of Iraqi National Dialogue Front MP Mohammed al-Dayni
Mohammed al-Dayni
Mohammed al-Dayni is an Iraqi politician and member of the Council of Representatives of Iraq.al-Dayni was elected in the Iraqi legislative election, December 2005 as one of the eleven MPs of the Sunni Arab-majority secular Iraqi National Dialogue Front party....
were arrested on suspicion of the attacks. Alaa Khairallah Hashim, al-Dayni's security chief and Ryadh Ibrahim al-Dayni, Mohammed al-Dayni's nephew, confessed on television to involvement in several attacks, including the parliament bombing. They said the MP had given authorisation for the bomber to enter the parliament area. The security forces asked the Council of Representatives of Iraq to lift al-Dayni's parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
. Mohammed al-Dayni claimed that the accusations were lies and that his bodyguards had been tortured into making a false confession because he had been disclosing human rights abuses in Iraqi prisons. al-Dayni took a flight to Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, but the aeroplane was forced to turn back; parliament then agreed to lift his immunity.
Reactions
When the bombing occurred, Saleh al-MutlaqSaleh al-Mutlaq
Saleh Muhammed al-Mutlaq is an Iraqi politician who is the head of Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, the fifth largest political list in Iraq's parliament. Since 21 December 2010, he has been one of the three deputy prime ministers of Iraq....
, the head of Awad's party, called on the United States occupation to overthrow the government of Nouri al-Maliki
Nouri al-Maliki
Nouri Kamil Mohammed Hasan al-Maliki , also known as Jawad al-Maliki or Abu Esraa, is the Prime Minister of Iraq and the secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party. Al-Maliki and his government succeeded the Iraqi Transitional Government. He is currently in his second term as Prime Minister...
The Iraqi Council of Representatives held an emergency assembly the following day in response to the bombing, to "show resilience in the face of such attacks".
US President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
condemned the attacks, saying "there is an enemy willing to bomb innocent people and a symbol of democracy". The Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ali Hosseini
Mohammad Ali Hosseini
Mohammad Ali Hosseini is the vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran. He is the current spokesman of the Ministry and Vice Minister of parliamentary affairs.-References:...
described the attack as "inhumane and satanic ... target[ting] both its Shia and Sunni officials"
Four days later three Ministers from the Sadrist Movement
Sadrist Movement
The Sadrist Movement is an Iraqi Islamist national movement led by Muqtada al-Sadr. The movement draws wide support from across Iraqi society and especially from the Shi'a poor in the country. The most important person in setting the goals and the philosophy of the movement was Grand Ayatollah...
quit the government, citing, among other things, the growing insecurity in Baghdad.