December 01, 2004

Body of 'Western' Woman Found in Fallujah not Margaret Hassan

Reuters:

Dental records have proved that the body of a Western woman found in Iraq is not that of hostage Margaret Hassan but London still thinks she is probably dead, the Foreign Office says.

"We still believe she is probably dead," a Foreign Office spokesman said on Wednesday. "We are no further forward in our conclusions."...

U.S. marines found the mutilated body of a Western woman in Fallujah last month during an assault on rebels in the city but the Foreign Office said dental records had proved the body not to be that of Hassan.

As I noted on the day the body was found:
Let me just add that this is not a slam-dunk identification. The Islamist terrorists who are behind this murder could just as easily have killed an Iraqi woman for dying her hair blonde.
The terrorists in Fallujah had instituted a Talliban like code. I find it easy to believe they would murder any one who appeared to look too Western.

The Prime Minister of Australia had confided to the press that he had information which verified the body as that of Mrs. Hassan. He later retracted that statement.

Chad at In the Bullpen has some interesting speculation on this. Digger and Interested Participant (both of whom tipped me to the story) as well, although I wouldn't make too much of Hassan's husband believing she is alive. The fact that al Jazeera did not air the video speaks volumes as to it's authenticity. Margaret Hassan is dead.

Others: ISOU, Backcountry Conservative, Sparse Matrix, Slant Point

By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at 04:43 PM | |