Mourners pay respects to Margaret Hassan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The apparent killing of the former Care International director Margaret Hassan has sent shockwaves through communities all over the world, from her adopted country, Iraq, to the country of her birth, Ireland.
The apparent killing of the former Care International director Margaret Hassan has sent shockwaves through communities all over the world, from her adopted country, Iraq, to the country of her birth, Ireland.
Several hundred mourners congregated yesterday to a church in the village of Kenmare in south-west Ireland, where Mrs Hassan's sister, Geraldine Riney, lives, to pay their respects to the aid worker at a joint Catholic-Protestant service.
The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, expressed his deep shock and sadness, and said: "Those responsible for abducting Margaret stand condemned by everyone throughout the entire international community. If they have any humanity, they should now bring to an end the enormous pain and suffering they have inflicted on an innocent and good family."
In Iraq, too, there was shock and disbelief that Mrs Hassan could be the first kidnapped woman to be killed by Islamic militants. Qayder al-Chalabi, head of one of the Baghdad hospitals that benefited from Mrs Hassan's years of commitment, told Reuters that her killers "made a very big mistake. I cannot imagine that these things could happen because she was a very humanitarian person. She felt our suffering, she understood the suffering of the Iraqi people."
Mrs Hassan's death has yet to be confirmed.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments