Mithail Alusi. Supports Israel
Photo: Ronen Bodoni
The Iraqi parliament lifted the immunity of Sunni MP Mithal Alusi on Sunday for visiting Israel last week to attend an international conference on terrorism.
Parliament voted to ban Alusi from traveling outside Iraq or attending its sessions, and to ask prosecutors to press charges against him. The action against Alusi, the sole member of his own parliamentary faction, was agreed by acclamation.
Justice
Smadar Peri
Former Iraqi culture minister sentenced to death by hanging for involvement in killing of parliament member Mithal al-Alusi's two sons after his visit to Israel
In the piece Alusi wrote, "Our new Iraq does not believe in wars. I wish every Jew, Muslim, and Christian peace. I wish every father and mother happiness in raising their children."
During his latest visit, Alusi spoke at the Herzliya Institute for Policy and Strategy near Tel Aviv where, according to Shiite MP Ali al-Adeeb, he urged support for Israel.
"Iraqi law prevents Iraqis from traveling to Israel," Adeeb told fellow MPs. Hadi al-Ameri, an MP from the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, a Shiite religious party that is a key faction in the governing coalition, demanded that Alusi be prosecuted for "dealing with the enemy."
Alusi said his visit to Israel was not an official visit. "I did not represent Iraq. It was a personal visit following an invitation," Alusi told parliament.
'We should cooperate with Israel'
At the time of his 2004 visit, Alusi was a member of the Iraqi National Congress, the party led by former Pentagon favourite Ahmed Chalabi. But he was expelled from the party for making the visit and set up his own party known as Al Umma, of which he is the sole representative in the 275-member parliament.
According to Iraqi press reports, in his address to the Herzliya Institute, Alusi called for greater cooperation against Iran. "Iran today is the centre for disaster in the region. The majority of Iraqi people do not support the Tehran regime," he was quoted as saying.
"We should cooperate with Israel in gathering intelligence, along with Turkey, Kuwait and the United States, to guarantee an exchange of information in order to confront terrorism together."
Alusi has survived several assassination attempts in recent years. His two sons and a bodyguard were killed in one attempt on his life in February 2005.