Spanish Embassy slams Iraqi news outlet blaming denied visa for child's death

The Spanish Embassy to Iraq on Sunday criticized an Iraqi news outlet for blaming the diplomatic office for the death of a child who was looking to be treated in the European country but was denied a visa.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Spanish Embassy to Iraq on Sunday criticized an Iraqi news outlet for blaming the diplomatic office for the death of a child who was looking to be treated in the European country but was denied a visa.

“Accusing the Embassy of Spain of the death of a child is a very serious matter and unacceptable,” Juan Jose Escobar, the Spanish Ambassador, said in a statement published on the embassy’s social media page.

Escobar affirmed, “the Spanish embassy does not tolerate falsehood or false accusations.”

Broadcasted on Thursday by al-Furat, an outlet owned by Iraqi politician and head of the al-Hikma Coalition, Ammar al-Hakim, the report charged the Spanish embassy was responsible for the death of the sick child for failing to provide him a visa.

“The Spanish embassy does not sell visas,” Escobar pointed out, explaining that “there are strict procedures to obtain” the travel document, “as is the case with any other country in the European Union.”

He added that “in the specific case mentioned, visa procedures for medical treatment are carried out at our embassy in Amman, and we cannot conduct them in Baghdad.”

“Using the death of a child to attack the embassy because of personal interests… is also very dangerous,” Escobar continued, stressing that “it is unacceptable that such serious accusations be made without any evidence and confirmation by the embassy.”

The Ambassador stated the embassy’s readiness to investigate the case if there was any legal violation.

This is the second incident involving the Spanish embassy reported on by Iraqi media. On Wednesday, the embassy expressed “deep condolences” following a car accident that took place on July 31 in Baghdad’s International Zone involving an embassy vehicle and that resulted in the death of an Iraqi man.

“The Embassy of Spain will collaborate with the authorities of Iraq and to the family of Mr. Omar Khalid [the man who passed away in the incident] to clarify the circumstances of the accident and to provide any possible assistance,” the statement concluded. 

Editing by Nadia Riva