Zaid Meerwali was a 33-year-old businessman and a Seneca College student with a dual Canadian-Iraqi citizenship. He left his hometown of Richmond Hills, Ontario in mid-2004 to join a brother in selling computer systems and satellite dishes in Iraq.

He was abducted from his home by men dressed as police officers. A ransom was demanded over the phone but never collected. A nephew found Mr. Meerwali's body in a hospital morgue, shot in the head with his throat cut.

Zaid Meerwali leaves behind his wife, mother and 8 siblings.