US concerned over women's rights violations in Kurdistan Region

Women 09:43 PM - 2022-03-11

The US Consulate General expressed concern over the violation of women's right in the Kurdistan Region on Friday following the killing of Maria Sami in Erbil.

"The #United_States shares IKR leaders’ concerns over the recent rise in violence, killing, and violation of the rights of women and other marginalized communities in the #Iraqi_Kurdistan_Region," the US Consulate General in Erbil said in a statement.

"So-called “#honor_killings” like the recent murders of Eman “Maria” Sami Maghdeed, Maryam Yacoob, and Aydi Muhammed must be investigated and followed by a legal response, with the perpetrators held responsible," it added.

"We urge the Kurdistan Regional Government to continue taking meaningful action to pursue justice, end violence, and protect the rights and safety of all citizens, and we stand ready to assist," it said.

The US Consulate's statement comes after the recent killing of Maria Sami who was shot dead by her brother only 2 days before International Women’s Day. Her death was widely criticized in the Kurdistan Region. 

Maria, whose real name was Iman Saeed, was a famous TikToker with over 47,000 followers before her death. Her social media photos and videos rebelled against the community’s traditions. She published photos with cigarettes in her hands, videos where she expressed herself out loud, and images wearing crop tops - actions seen as lethal and looked down upon by the majority of the Kurdish community.

The Kurdistan Region suffers from high rates of gender-based violence. At least ten other women were killed in the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of 2022.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in 2011 passed the Combating Domestic Violence Law, but the phenomena and the so-called honor killings are still witnessed across the Region.

Twenty-four women were killed in the Kurdistan Region last year, according to statistics from the Directorate of Combatting Violence against Women. 



PUKmedia