![Iraqi demonstrators attend a symbolic funeral for slain Iraqi extremism expert Hisham al-Hashemi on July 7, 2020, at Baghdad's Tahrir square. The slogan reads in Arabic: "In response to the killing of Hashem al-Hashemi, all free people are to use the hashtag 'Khamenei [Iran's leader Ali Khamenei] is a killer, and his militias are wrongdoers'." [Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2023/05/08/42023-Iraq-Ali-Khamenei-700_496.webp)
BAGHDAD -- An Iraqi court on Sunday (May 7) sentenced to death a former policeman convicted of killing prominent academic Hisham al-Hashemi, whose murder in 2020 sparked condemnation in Iraq and abroad.
The sentence against Ahmed Hamdawi Oueid [al-Kenani] for killing al-Hashemi, an expert on extremist groups and a government security adviser, was handed down by a Baghdad criminal court and can be appealed, the judiciary said.
Al-Hashemi, an academic who had a vast network of contacts among top decision makers, had been outspoken against powerful Iran-aligned militias.
He had thrown his support behind popular protests that had broken out in Iraq a year before his death against the government, which was seen by many as inept, corrupt and too close to Iran.
![This screenshot from a video made February 11, 2019, shows Iraqi extremism expert Hisham al-Hashemi speaking during an interview in Baghdad. [AFP/AFPTV]](/cnmi_am/images/2023/05/08/42021-Hisham-al-Hashemi-700_496.webp)
This screenshot from a video made February 11, 2019, shows Iraqi extremism expert Hisham al-Hashemi speaking during an interview in Baghdad. [AFP/AFPTV]
![Iraqi demonstrators stage a symbolic funeral for slain Iraqi extremism expert Hisham al-Hashemi, who was shot dead the day before outside his house in the Iraqi capital, on July 7, 2020, at Baghdad's Tahrir square. [Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2023/05/08/42022-Hashemi-symbolic-funeral-700_496.webp)
Iraqi demonstrators stage a symbolic funeral for slain Iraqi extremism expert Hisham al-Hashemi, who was shot dead the day before outside his house in the Iraqi capital, on July 7, 2020, at Baghdad's Tahrir square. [Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP]
His stance infuriated Iran-backed Iraqi militias.
Al-Hashemi was shot dead outside his Baghdad home in July 2020 by gunmen on motorcycles.
Surveillance footage of the attack shown on state television purports to show Oueid carrying out the killing with three others, riding on two motorcycles.
A security source at the time said Oueid was affiliated with Kataib Hizbullah, the fiercest pro-Iran militia in Iraq.
Al-Hashemi had criticised Kataib Hizbullah in his writings and media commentary.
After he was killed, activists shared on social media messages in which he confirmed he had received death threats from the militia.
A year later, state television aired the alleged confession of the mastermind of the assault who was then identified by his full name Ahmed Hamdawi Oueid al-Kenani.
Then a police lieutenant aged 36, Oueid said he shot al-Hashemi with a pistol.
Spate of killings
On Sunday, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement that "a death sentence has been issued against the criminal Ahmed Hamdawi Oueid for the murder of security expert Hisham al-Hashemi".
Al-Hashemi's murder had sparked outrage across Iraq, triggering a number of protests, and was denounced by several countries as well as the United Nations.
More than 600 people were killed and thousands wounded in the protests that had erupted in October 2019 and a crackdown on the demonstrations.
In the aftermath of the protests, a spate of killings, attempted murders and abductions targeted dozens of activists in Iraq.
Iran-backed militias have been widely blamed for the targeting of activists as well as for attacks targeting international coalition facilities and personnel, and foreign diplomatic missions in Iraq.
