Memorial services have been held in Glasgow, Aberdeen and London for the former Glasgow Caledonian University student who was slain along with his father in Baghdad.
Until last week, Mohammed Al Janabi, 29, was a Phd student, preparing to return to Iraq after several years in Glasgow. His father, Sunni Sheik Qassem Sweidan Al Janabi, had asked him to come and help with work to heal divisions between Sunni and Shia groups in Iraq.
He had been eager to do so, according to friends, who paid tribute to his generosity and modesty.
Abdul Rahman Al Adhami, who lived close to him in Cowcaddens, said: "He didn't speak about his background, and lived in a modest flat. He was an ambassador for peace and love.
"He had that belief that he could change something and wanted to do that. But he never got the chance."
Returning from frequent trips abroad, Al Janabi's bags were always 90% full of gifts for others, Mr Al Adhami said. Meanwhile he spent time in the UK making international connections across political divides. Although he was Sunni, he befriended UK Shia Iraqis. "He wanted to eradicate sectarianism. At a time when violence is simple and easy people like him are rare in the world."
Iraqi Novelist Haifa Zangana, said Al Janabi had resisted an offer to use his law qualifications to teach at his alma mater Amman University in Jordan, a decision which had probably cost him his life. "He thought teaching would be fine for a few students, but he wouldn't be able to help very many people. Internal displacement of 1.9 million Iraqis is a major issue in Iraq, and he felt strongly that the Sunnis should not become like Palestinians, forced to leave their houses to stay in a new place."
Zangana and her husband had been planning to attend the ceremony in Glasgow where Mohammed Al Janabi would have been awarded his Phd in the summerr, she said. "We were discussing attending his graduation party at the university in June. He said 'Put it in your diary', and we said we weren't going to miss it for the world."
Attempts to contact his family in Iraq had failed as mobile connections were down, she said.
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