Responding to the killing of prominent Iraqi women’s rights activist Yanar Mohammed, who was shot by unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle outside her home in northern Baghdad, Razaw Salihy, Amnesty International’s Iraq Researcher, said
“The brutal killing of Yanar Mohammed, who dedicated her life to defending women’s rights, is a calculated assault to stifle human rights defenders, especially those defending women’s rights. The Iraqi authorities must stop this pattern of targeted attacks in their tracks, and take seriously the sustained smear campaigns designed to discredit and endanger activists.
Human rights defenders, including women’s rights defenders in Iraq must be protected — not silenced and killed.
Razaw Salihy, Amnesty International
“The assassination of Yanar Mohammed fits a chilling pattern of targeted killings and attempted killings of activists that Amnesty International has documented during and in the aftermath of the Tishreen protests since 2019. The persistent failure of the Iraqi authorities to hold perpetrators accountable for past assassinations has entrenched a climate of impunity that continues to place activists at grave and fatal risk. Human rights defenders, including women’s rights defenders in Iraq must be protected — not silenced and killed.
“Iraqi authorities must ensure the investigation they have ordered is prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial, in line with international standards. They must bring all those responsible to justice in fair trials that preclude the death penalty.”
Background
On 2 March 2026, Yanar Mohammed (66) was shot outside her residence in northern Baghdad. She later died from her wounds in hospital. On the same day, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al‑Sudani ordered an investigation into the killing.
Yanar Mohammed was the co‑founder and director of the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), one of the country’s most prominent women’s rights organizations.
In recent years, women’s rights activists in Iraq have faced increasing backlash, including smear campaigns, particularly following protests against amendments to the Personal Status Law, which ultimately came into effect in February 2025.
Amnesty International has documented multiple assassinations and attempted assassinations of activists, along with investigations and trials that have failed to deliver justice.
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