UN Urges Formal Investigation into Killing of Iraqi Rights Activist
- Human Rights Research Center
- 56 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Author: Aahana Nagwekar
April 28, 2026
HRRC strongly condemns gender-based violence and calls on the Iraqi government to allow UN experts to investigate the murder of Yanar Mohammed. The Iraqi government must take accountability for the situation and implement stronger protections for human rights activists.
![Yanar Mohammed, speaking to reporters about her opposition to the sections of the new Iraqi constitution that would systemically disadvantage women. [Image credit: July 28, 2005. © 2025 Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty Images, Human Rights Watch]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_f9557dcf40c649fc919f1bb6562d523b~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_34,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_f9557dcf40c649fc919f1bb6562d523b~mv2.png)
On April 24, 2026, the United Nations formally condemned the murder of human rights defender Yanar Mohammed, calling for a proper investigation. In March of 2026, Yanar Mohammed was shot right outside of her home by two unidentified gunmen, who immediately fled the scene.
After Mohammed’s murder, the Iraqi Minister of Interior posted on social media that an investigation was opened. While it seemed like the government was taking action, further examination into the Iraqi justice system by UN experts revealed that Iraq lacked a substantial framework to properly investigate gender-based violence cases, meaning that this investigation was not likely to get proper justice for Mohammed.
Prior to Mohammed’s murder, she had received death threats and was forced to restrict some of her movements. Additionally, she had been a target of several judicial proceedings that lacked any legal basis.
As a result of these threats to her safety, Mohammed was forced to go into hiding at multiple times in her life. The state gave her no protection, repeatedly putting her life on the line as she fought for gender equality, safety from sexual violence, and systemic discrimination.
UN experts explain that, although the investigation launched by the Iraqi government is a good start, “The continued lack of accountability for crimes of violence against women in the past…sends a message of normalizing such crimes and fuels impunity.” In order to bring proper justice to Mohammed as well as deter gender-based crimes, the Iraqi government must devote proper time and resources into setting up proper frameworks to ensure thorough investigations alongside governmental transparency.
Currently, the UN is in touch with authorities on the matter, marking the beginning of attempts for collaboration between the two investigative teams focused on bringing justice to Yanar Mohammed.
Glossary
Accountability – the state of being held at fault, liable, or answerable.
Condemned – judged as wrong or unacceptable, often formally
Deter – to prevent
Discrimination – action based on prejudice
Framework – a basic structure, plan, or system, as of concepts, values, customs, or rules
Gender-Based Violence – harm, or threats to harm, committed against a person(s) based on actual or perceived sex, gender, or other such sex/gender related characteristics.
Impunity – exemption from punishment
Investigation – detailed or careful examination
Judicial Proceedings – legal processes where a judge makes a decision around what should happen
Restrict – to confine or keep within limits
Substantial – of a good or considerable amount
Systemic – of or relating to a system, especially when affecting the entirety of a thing
Transparency – the principle of operating with openness, honesty, and clarity in actions and decisions
References