ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS NAJAF BOMBING

29 August 2003





The acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, condemns the shocking act of terrorism that claimed the life of Ayatollah Mohamed Baker al-Hakim and dozens of other innocent victims in the holy city of Najaf following Friday prayers. The assassination of Ayatollah al-Hakim comes only days after a failed assassination attempt against another leading spiritual leader, Sayed Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim, and less than two weeks after bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

The acting High Commissioner joins the Secretary-General in deploring this escalation of violence and condemns all acts of terrorism. He appeals to all concerned to track down the perpetrators of these criminal acts and bring them to justice, in accordance with international human rights law.




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