Former Iraqi Lawmaker Ahmed al-Alwani Found Dead in Beirut, Murder Investigation Launched

Ahmed al-Alwani, a former Iraqi lawmaker, has been discovered deceased in a Beirut apartment, according to a security source who spoke to Al Jazeera on Tuesday. Authorities in Lebanon have initiated a murder investigation into his death, though the exact cause has not yet been disclosed.

The official National News Agency (NNA) confirmed the incident, labeling al-Alwani’s death as a “murder” and stating that Lebanese authorities have commenced an inquiry. His body was found on Monday in an apartment located in Beirut’s Tariq Al-Jadeeda neighborhood. Judge Ahmed Rami al-Hajj will reportedly lead the investigation, conducted by Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces.

Al-Alwani’s office issued a statement on X, denouncing his death as an “assassination” and a “treacherous crime.” The statement emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible, asserting that the incident is not one to be dismissed lightly but demands a firm official response and a transparent inquiry to identify all involved parties.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese judicial source informed AFP news agency that preliminary findings suggest al-Alwani was strangled. A Lebanese national suspected of involvement has been apprehended, while authorities are reportedly searching for two Syrian suspects who remain at large. These suspects are believed to have transported al-Alwani from the airport to his hotel upon his arrival in Beirut last week.

Al-Alwani, a Sunni politician, previously represented the western province of Anbar in Iraq’s parliament. He gained prominence during the 2012-2013 protests against the Shia-led government of then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He was arrested in December 2013 during a raid on his home in Ramadi, an event during which his brother and several others were killed. In 2014, al-Alwani received a death sentence on “terrorism” charges but was later released in April 2025 under Iraq’s General Amnesty Law, having spent over a decade in detention.

Iraq’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Reda al-Husseini, stated that the embassy is closely monitoring the case and awaiting the final report from Lebanese security agencies to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crime.