A Bradford charity is having to reconsider its work in Iraq after one of its workers was kidnapped and killed by militia fighters last month.

The Human Relief Foundation (HRF), which has its base in Great Horton, has been working in the war-torn country for more than a decade helping to relieve the suffering of innocent people.

In recent months the escalating sectarian violence has made it hard for the charity to carry on its work and the charity's director Dr Nabeel Al-Ramadhani has been warned by his staff not to visit the country.

One of the charity's workers Mohammad Hazim Abdul Razaq was taken from his home in Baghdad and held to ransom by militia. Although his family agreed to pay the ransom he was shot in the head, three days after he was taken.

He is thought to be the second person killed in Iraq who was working for a British charity.

As a result HRF has moved its Baghdad office to a new location and it has removed all insignia from its aid distribution vehicles.

Dr Al-Ramadhani said: "My team of workers both here in Bradford and in Iraq are all working hard for the benefit of others but since the assassination of Mohammad Hazim Abdul Razaq they are not happy - they have lost some of their zeal and the mood in the office is more sombre.

"Areas are stable for one or two days and then a car bomb goes off in the market or a mosque is attacked.

"The problem is that the militia have managed to get positions as security officials. They are not there to protect the people."

Dr Al-Ramadhani said that until 2004 the charity was sending workers from the UK to the region but since then the staff have been recruited from Iraqi professionals like accountants and engineers.

He said: "We will continue to work in Iraq for as long as we can but if the situation continues to get worse we will have to consider where we can work and be effective.

"Mosul is in a better situation and maybe if things improve I will look to visit there in the new year."

Due to the security situation Dr Al-Ramadhani has to travel to neighbouring Jordan to meet his staff.

HRF has set up a number of projects in Iraq aimed at improving the lives of orphans and widows.

"We have built schools, sent supplies to hospitals, helped set up IT training and provided safe drinking water for villages," said Dr Al-Ramadhani.

The charity tries to reach people living in Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk, Ramadi and Karbala.

For more information about the work of HRF visit www.hrf.co.uk or call the Bradford office on (01274) 392727.

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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