Ihab al-Sharif

Who is Ihab al-Sharif?

Ihab al-Sharif was an Egyptian diplomat. He was Egypt's ambassador-designate to Iraq in July 2005, when he was killed by Al-Qaeda in Iraq. He had previously served as Egypt's deputy ambassador to Israel prior to the Second Intifada.

Sharif was abducted while driving alone in Baghdad's western quarter. In a video posted online, Al Qaeda in Iraq was quoted as saying, "Oh enemy of God, Ihab al-Sharif, this is your punishment in this life, and you will be condemned to hell in the hereafter,"

He was the first Egyptian ambassador to Iraq following the Fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003. Another Egyptian ambassador to Iraq was not posted until June 2009, when Sherif Kamal Shahine was sent.