Baghdad, Iraq – Safaa Al-Mashhadani, a member of the Baghdad Provincial Council and a candidate for the parliamentary elections for the “Sovereignty Alliance”, was killed at dawn on Wednesday.
This was done through a bomb placed in his car and exploded while he was inside it, in the Tarmiyah area, north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
The assassination occurred during a field tour by Al-Mashhadani in Tarmiyah.
This will be the first assassination in the Iraqi parliamentary elections, which will be held on the 11th of next month.
مراسل العربية: اغتيال مرشح انتخابات البرلمان العراقي عن "تحالف السيادة" صفاء المشهداني #العربية_عاجل #قناة_العربية pic.twitter.com/2OskyISXIZ
— العربية (@AlArabiya) October 15, 2025Expressions of condolence poured in from many Iraqis on social media, and Al-Mashhadani’s supporters recalled his firm positions against armed groups in Iraq.
Others also shared what they said was Mashhadani’s last television appearance.
In it, he criticized “the displacement of the people of Jurf al-Sakhar from the region, and preventing their return to their homes”.
بعد أيام من مطالبته بإخراج الحشد من الطارمية اغتيال المرشح عن تحالف السيادة صفاء المشهداني بعبوة لاصقة وضعت في سيارته pic.twitter.com/6d0wuGkQkm
— عثمان المختار (@othmanmhmmadr) October 15, 2025The Speaker of Parliament comments
For his part.. Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani condemned this “cowardly terrorist attack” that targeted the candidate and two of his companions.
He also called on the government and relevant security authorities to investigate the candidate’s assassination and hold the perpetrators accountable.
It is noteworthy that the “Sovereignty Alliance” is considered one of the important Sunni parties running in the elections.
The party is led by Khamis Al-Khanjar, Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament.
Over the past years, Iraq has witnessed many assassinations and kidnappings that targeted civilian activists, journalists and politicians.
Some of them are opponents of armed factions.
The official authorities promised to hold accountable and prosecute anyone involved.
However, some cases of kidnapping and murder that occurred four years ago still have unknown details and those involved.
