Sister makes plea for Margaret Hassan's body

The sister of Irish aid worker Margaret Hassan, who was taken hostage and killed in Iraq, has called on the Muslim community to demand the return of her body in the wake of Saddam Hussein’s death.

Deirdre Fitzsimons compared the outrage generated by the former dictator’s execution with the “deafening” silence over her sister’s own kidnapping and torture.

She said Muslims were angry that Saddam had been hanged during the festival of Eid but had shown no reaction when Mrs Hassan was seized during Ramadan.

Dublin-born charity worker Margaret Hassan had lived in Iraq for 30 years before she was kidnapped in October 2004 and shot a month later.

In a statement today, Ms Fitzsimons said her family had “begged and begged” for the release of her body so that she could be given a proper burial.

She said: “All through the terrible time of Margaret’s kidnapping and torture the silence of the Muslim community both here and abroad was deafening.

“Our family has begged and begged for the release of her body, to allow us to bury her with some dignity and according to our religion.”

Ms Fitzsimons added: “Although I do not agree with the death penalty, it does not serve the Muslim community well to be outraged by Saddam’s execution during Eid.

“Saddam murdered hundreds of thousands but at least he was buried in the family grave and according to his own religion.”

Mrs Hassan had been head of operations for humanitarian group Care International for around 12 years in the country before she was taken hostage.

Ms Fitzsimons described her as a woman who “devoted her life to the poor and sick of Iraq”.