“Her death is Iraq’s loss. She was a humanist who loved the country, struggled to help the disadvantaged in normal times as well as under dictatorship and sanctions, war and occupation.

Her murder is yet another example of the chaos outsiders have brought to Iraq. She fell victim to both her killers and to the failed US/UK Iraq policies before, during and after the war that have killed so many of her compatriots.

The dream of freedom, self-determination and peace in Iraq remains a dream.

Margaret Hassan would have been among those who could help bridge life from dream to a new reality. As demonstrating Iraqis have shown, “Umm (Mama) Margaret” was one of their rays of hope.

CARE has lost a cornerstone of competence, Iraq an ardent fighter for peace, and her family the most precious a family can have, a mother and wife.

And we have lost a dear friend who so generously shared her knowledge and compassion with us.”

Hans von SponeckFormer UN Assistant Secretary General & United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq and TFF Associate

Christian HårlemanChairman of the Board of TFF

Jan ObergTFF director and co-founder