Former Iraqi Lawmaker Ahmad Al Alwani Found Dead in Beirut; Office Claims 'Assassination'

A former Iraqi legislator, Ahmad Al Alwani, has been discovered deceased in a Beirut apartment, an incident his office has characterized as an "assassination." Lebanon's chief prosecutor has initiated an investigation into the killing. Al Alwani's body was found in the Tariq Al Jdide neighborhood of Beirut after his family reported losing contact with him. The Information Branch of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces is leading the investigation, according to the National News Agency.

Mr. Al Alwani, 57, was a prominent Sunni politician hailing from Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s Anbar province, and a member of the Albu Alwan tribe. He had traveled to the Lebanese capital from Erbil in northern Iraq on Thursday, as reported by local media. Family members reportedly lost contact with him and alerted the Iraqi embassy, which led to the discovery of his body by police.

In a statement released on X, Mr. Al Alwani’s office condemned his death as an "assassination" and a "treacherous crime," demanding a transparent investigation and accountability. The statement emphasized that the incident requires a firm official response and a thorough investigation to identify all involved parties, asserting that no one is above accountability.

A Lebanese judicial source informed AFP that initial findings suggest Mr. Al Alwani was strangled. A Lebanese national suspected of involvement has been apprehended. Authorities are also seeking two Syrian suspects who are currently at large and who had reportedly transported Mr. Al Alwani from the airport to his hotel upon his arrival in Beirut last week, the source added.

Iraq’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Al Husseini, confirmed that Baghdad is coordinating with Lebanese security authorities regarding the circumstances of the killing. Mr. Al Alwani served two terms in the Iraqi parliament between 2005 and 2014, representing Anbar, and previously chaired its economic committee. He gained national recognition during widespread protests in Anbar in 2012 and 2013 against the government of then-prime minister Nouri Al Maliki, where protesters accused the Shiite-led government of sectarian discrimination and marginalizing Iraq’s Sunni community.

Mr. Al Alwani emerged as a leading figure in these demonstrations and was central to the Ramadi sit-in. His political career faced a significant setback in December 2013 when security forces raided his home for his arrest. An armed confrontation during the raid resulted in the deaths of his brother, Ali Al Alwani, and several others. His arrest, despite parliamentary immunity, triggered considerable political controversy. In November 2014, the Central Criminal Court in Iraq sentenced him to death by hanging, finding him guilty of the premeditated murder of two soldiers during the raid, under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code. He was released last year under Iraq’s General Amnesty Law. Mr. Al Alwani was also known for his strong criticism of Iranian influence in Iraq.