Lebanon hands over body of Iraqi former MP found dead in Beirut

Lebanon has returned the body of former Iraqi parliamentarian Ahmed Al Alwani to Baghdad, according to a statement from Iraq's embassy in Beirut. The 57-year-old Sunni politician was discovered dead in a Beirut apartment last week, following his recent arrival from Iraq's Kurdistan region. Initial examinations suggest he had been hit on the head and strangled, though Lebanese authorities have not yet determined a motive for the killing.

Lebanon's Prosecutor General, Judge Ahmad Rami Al Hajj, granted the Iraqi embassy permission to receive Al Alwani's body after completing medical and forensic tests. His identity was verified through DNA testing with his son and X-ray scans of the remains, with a copy of the forensic report to be shared with his family. Efforts are underway to swiftly return the body to Iraq, with coordination between Lebanese and Iraqi authorities.

Al Alwani was a prominent political figure in Iraq, known for his involvement in anti-government protests in 2012 and 2013. He was arrested and sentenced to death on terrorism charges in 2014 but was released in 2025 after serving more than a decade in prison. Lebanese investigators have identified three suspects in the case, including a Lebanese national in custody and two Syrians who fled into Syria after the incident.

Beirut has called on Damascus to arrest and extradite the Syrian suspects, while Lebanese officials say the motive investigation remains ongoing. The killing has sparked debate in Iraq about whether Al Alwani's death was a criminal act or politically motivated, though Lebanese authorities have not concluded the case.