The Bosnian authorities have refused to extradite a person suspected of involvement in the assassination of Tunisian national Mohamed Zaouari, a member of the Palestinian Hamas Movement.
Zaouari, a 49-year-old engineer and Tunisian citizen, was murdered at the wheel of his car outside his house in Tunisia’s second city, Sfax, in December 2016.
Tunisia’s Prosecution Spokesman Sofiene Al-Sliti said on Wednesday that one of the two Bosnian suspects was arrested in Croatia, adding that the two people who carried out the assassination were identified -- both were of Bosnian nationality.
Al-Sliti noted that the Tunisian judiciary has sent international letters rogatory to seven countries in coordination with the Interpol, namely Turkey, Egypt, Cuba, Croatia, Lebanon, Bosnia and Sweden.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Sliti said that one of the perpetrators of the assassination was arrested on March 13, but the Bosnian state refused to extradite the main suspect, to the Tunisian authorities, and justified its refusal by the fact that its laws prevent the extradition of its nationals to other countries.
Zaouari was shot dead on December 15, 2016 in front of his home in the city of Sfax. Security investigations conducted by the Ministry of the Interior revealed that two persons were involved in the assassination. Hamas’ Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades revealed that Zaouari was one of its members and a key component in its weapons development, especially in the area of unmanned drones.
The brigade accused the Israeli Mossad service of being behind the assassination.
