Iraqis Want to Prosecute Politician Who Went to Israel
World | Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 9:25:25 am PDT
BAGHDAD, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Iraq said on Sunday it would prosecute a politician who made a trip to Israel and angry parliamentarians voted to strip him of his legal immunity.
Members of parliament said Mithal al-Alusi had committed a crime by “visiting a country that Iraq considers an enemy”, in breach of a law they said had been retained since the rule of late dictator Saddam Hussein.
Like most Arab countries, Iraq has no diplomatic relations with Israel, but it is not clear exactly what the law says about visiting it. Alusi made a trip there earlier this month for a conference on terrorism and security.
“In the name of the government and prime minister, we reject this visit which violated the law and provoked the feelings of the Iraqi people. The government will take all legal measures against this person,” minister for parliamentary affairs Safaaeddine al-Safi told the assembly.
