Surveillance footage shows moment Iraqi activist assassinated in Basra

Activists from Basra circulated a video that shows the assassination of Iraqi activist Soad al-Ali in Basra, south of Iraq.

The video, which is shot by a surveillance camera in a building close to where the incident happened, showed that Ali was killed while she was about to get into her car with the accompanying driver, the NGO Human Rights Women Defenders Sawtuha Network, to which Ali belonged, said.

Sawtuha told Al Arabiya English that Ali and a number of other activists were threatened with murder and libeled after photos of them appeared standing near the American consul in Basra two weeks ago when there were protests in the governorate.

According to Sawtuha, the photos were taken during a workshop on civil peace held by the American consulate and it was attended by a number of activists from Basra.

Sawtuha added that the man accompanying Ali was the driver, noting that allegations about family disputes with her husband are inaccurate.

Accusations of collaboration have been made against plenty of activists after the Iranian consulate and the headquarters of parties in support of Iran were burnt by angry protestors.

Following the protests in the governorate, at least 31 activists from Basra were arrested, according to sources. Last week, security forces released 13 people who were detained during the protests.

According to activists, Basra’s security situation is worrying as activists are being threatened on a daily basis by “the parties’ militias.”