Sunni candidate killed ahead of Iraq’s November parliamentary elections

This is the most high-profile assassination of these elections and the most high-profile attack in Iraq in recent memory.

A car bombing killed Safaa al-Mashhadani, a Sunni-Iraqi parliamentary candidate who was running in the upcoming elections scheduled for November, on Wednesday. He was a member of the Baghdad provincial council.

A bomb was attached to his vehicle and detonated in an area north of Baghdad, killing Mashhadani and wounding four other people who were with him, according to reports.

While assassinations have happened in the past, often at the hands of Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias, this is the most high-profile assassination of these elections and the most high-profile attack in Iraq in recent memory.

In 2020, members of a Shi’ite militia murdered Husham al-Hashimi, a researcher and expert, in Baghdad. The killers were linked to Kataib Hezbollah, the same group that kidnapped researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in Baghdad in 2023. Tsurkov, who holds Israeli and Russian citizenship, was released in September 2025.

According to reports, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, who is also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, has ordered an investigation into the attack and murder of Mashhadani. Mashhadani was running in the elections for a group called the Sovereignty Alliance. Al-Arabihya described this as “one of the major Sunni parties running in the elections. The party is led by Khamis al-Khanjar and the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani.”

The Sovereignty is known in Arabic as the Al-Siyada Alliance. Kurdistan24, a network in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, noted that, “according to initial reports, the explosion occurred in Baghdad’s Tarmiyah district, setting Mashhadani’s car ablaze and killing him instantly. Video footage circulating on social media shows the moment of the blast, with thick smoke rising from the vehicle engulfed in flames.”

“Mashhadani, a Sunni politician and one of the prominent figures within the al-Siyada Alliance led by Khamis al-Khanjar, was widely regarded as one of Baghdad’s most popular and influential local leaders. His growing popularity, especially among young voters and Sunni communities in the capital, made him a strong contender in the upcoming parliamentary race and a key vote-winner for his alliance,” the report stated.

Family ties unclear

It was not clear at the time of publication what family ties the victim may have had with Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who is also a leader of the Siyada party.

Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani mourned the death of Safaa al-Mashhadani and has called the attack “cowardly.” Mahmoud Mashhadani has been a member of parliament since 2005. He was elected soon after the US invasion and has been the Speaker since 2024.

The Speaker of Parliament is a key Sunni-held position in Iraq. Iraqi Shi’ite parties generally control the country and hold the prime minister’s office, while the president of Iraq is Kurdish. This enables a balance between the groups, similar to how Lebanon is governed. However, Iraq is more of a majoritarian democracy than Lebanon, meaning that seats are not reserved for groups the same way.

Last year, Shafaq news noted that the SIyada party had sought to push its candidate, Mashhadani, into the speakership role. It put out a statement urging Sunni parties to “avoid succumbing to individuals or groups attempting to bypass the Sunni majority’s rightful claim and undermining the democratic principles and national rights that ensure all Iraqis participate without exclusion or marginalization in shaping their future.”

The report noted that “despite several parliamentary sessions held to elect a new Speaker, political factions have failed to reach a consensus. The Taqaddum bloc, led by Halbousi, insists on retaining the position as its entitlement. In contrast, Siyada bloc, led by Khanjar, and other Sunni groups argue that the seat should represent the entire Sunni community, not just a single party or bloc.”

Reports indicate that the Siyada party has allied with other parties, including the Azem Alliance. Headed by the businessman Khanjar, it also includes former defense minister Khaled al-Obaidi, who played a key role in the defeat of ISIS.

The assassination in Iraq may be a prelude to more attacks before the elections. On the other hand, it could also be a message from either Sunni or Shi’ite rivals directed at the Siyada party and its leadership.