The Dar Al-Mada publishing house in Iraq announced the survival of its owner, the publisher and Iraqi politician Fakhri Karim, from an assassination attempt last Thursday evening. The statement indicated that Karim was targeted while returning home after participating in the Baghdad International Book Fair, organized by the publishing house.
Karim is the chairman of the Al-Mada Foundation for Media, Culture, and Arts, and he also serves as the head of the Iraqi Council for Peace and Solidarity. He previously held the position of political advisor to former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
The statement mentioned that the assassination attempt occurred in the Al-Qadisiyyah area of Baghdad, carried out by unknown gunmen at around 9 PM. It was explained that the assailants were in two small trucks, which blocked Karim's vehicle before opening fire on it with automatic weapons and then fleeing the scene.
Dar Al-Mada's statement noted that the failed assassination attempt highlights that what it referred to as the forces of darkness and backwardness, "responsible for the prevailing destruction in Iraq," were displeased to see Iraqis joyfully engaged in a significant and impactful cultural event like the Baghdad International Book Fair, which has been ongoing for several days and attended by hundreds of thousands of citizens. The publishing house called for a swift investigation to identify the perpetrators and those behind them, and to bring them to justice.
