(IRAQ’S WOMEN OF INFLUENCE ‘TARGETED’ IN MURDER SPREE)
The recent deaths of four prominent young women in Iraq, all of whom were seen as being outspoken and challenging the norms of a conservative society; is outrageous and should be stopped immediately.
The first victim of this series of Killing was Rafif al-Yasiri, an Iraqi plastic surgeon and conductor of national programs specializing in medical affairs for women, murdered on Thursday 16 August 2018. Despite an initial claim that her death was caused by drug overdose, there was wide speculation that her killing was politically motivated. The subsequent public pressure had enforced the Ministry of Interior to investigate her sudden death.
On the following Thursday, 23rd of August, Rasha al-Hassan, director of the Viola Beauty Centre, was murdered in Baghdad in the similar circumstance. Her killing was announced on Facebook amid questioning the circumstances of the death of beauticians, raising wide concerns and serious threats not only about a systematic targeting of beauty centres’ owners but for women in general.
On September 25, 2018, Suad al-Ali, a human rights activist, and the head of an organisation called al-Weed al-Alaiami for Human Rights was killed in broad daylight in Basra, southern Iraq. She was gunned down on the way to her car. A video posted online appears to show an unidentified man opening fire at her as she gets into a car near a supermarket in the Abbasiya area. Mrs. Ali, supported the protests in Basrah in July – September this year.
On Thursday 27 September, Tara Fares, Iraqi social media character, and a model was shot dead in her car in Kam Sara neighborhood of Baghdad. She was murdered by gunmen that believed to be affiliated to pro-Iran militia Asab Ahl-Haq. The murder was captured by cameras and the assassin was later arrested by the Ministry of Interior.
We, the members and supporters of the Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women’s Organisation:
- Firstly, denounce this string of assassinations of women carried out by criminal groups and/or militias,
- Secondly, we hold the Government of Iraq (GoI) responsible for the protection of women’s lives in Iraq. The GoI should take all the measures to protect women’s personal and civil freedoms and secure their free choice of jobs or careers,
- Thirdly, we demand that the GoI take immediate, fair and just legal action against the perpetrators and unfold any political groups that support them,
- Finally, we call upon the GoI and to support all efforts to dismantle the militias in Iraq as a precondition to saving the lives and rights of women in this country.
Sawsan Salim,
Director
KMEWO
2nd October 2018