Turkish party urges extradition of Iraq’s fugitive vice president

The Turkish party’s leader Devlet Bahcheli told reporters on Tuesday that Ankara must provide the required assistance for the apprehension of Hashemi who is now in Istanbul, adding that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu is informed about Hashemi’s whereabouts.

On Tuesday, Interpol issued an international Red Notice for the arrest of Hashemi to all of its 190 member countries to seek their help in locating and arresting him.

The fugitive Iraqi vice president is accused of involvement in bomb attacks against government and security officials, in which civilians were also killed, over the past years. He and his bodyguards also face accusations of killing six judges.

On December 19, 2011, an investigative committee within the Iraqi Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Hashemi after three of his bodyguards confessed to having taken orders from him to carry out terrorist attacks.

Before entering Turkey, Hashemi had fled to the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq and later to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

It is still unclear whether the Turkish police would take any measures to arrest Hashemi.

In an attempt to provide protection for Hashemi, the Turkish government has reportedly rented two apartments for Hashemi and his four bodyguards in Istanbul’s suburbs, following a set of talks between Hashemi, Davutoglu and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to the report, Ankara has also allocated 17 bodyguards and five cars, including a bullet-proof automobile, to provide further security for Hashemi.

Political observers criticize Turkey for protecting Hashemi and describe the move as Ankara’s double standard towards the issue of terrorism.