{"id":13902,"date":"2026-03-04T19:45:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=13902"},"modified":"2026-03-04T19:45:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:45:54","slug":"iraqi-womens-rights-activist-yanar-mohammed-killing-spurs-call-for-justice-womens-rights-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=13902","title":{"rendered":"Iraqi women\u2019s rights activist Yanar Mohammed killing spurs call for justice | Women&#8217;s Rights News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div><button class=\"article-listen-container\" aria-labelledby=\"listen-text listen-duration\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-listen-container__text\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-text\">Listen to this article<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"article-listen-container__duration\">4 mins<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--main-grey-dark icon--16 listen-to-article-tooltip__icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>The killing of prominent Iraqi women\u2019s rights activist Yanar Mohammed has fuelled an outpouring of grief and calls for justice, with advocates from around the world remembering Mohammed as a \u201ccourageous\u201d voice.<\/p>\n<p>Mohammed, 66, was killed earlier this week after unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire outside her home in the north of Iraq\u2019s capital, Baghdad.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>\u201cDespite being rushed to the hospital and attempts to save her life, she succumbed to her wounds,\u201d the Organisation of Women\u2019s Freedom in Iraq, a group that Mohammed co-founded, said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DVYY9PpDgzW\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a statement<\/a> shared on social media.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe at the Organisation for Women\u2019s Freedom in Iraq condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly terrorist crime, which we consider a direct attack on the feminist struggle and the values of freedom and equality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Several international rights groups also condemned Mohammed\u2019s killing, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/press-release\/2026\/03\/iraq-ensure-accountability-for-killing-of-yanar-mohammed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amnesty International<\/a> on Wednesday decrying the deadly attack as \u201cbrutal\u201d and \u201ca calculated assault to stifle human rights defenders, especially those defending women\u2019s rights\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The organisation, which said Iraq\u2019s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al\u2011Sudani ordered an investigation into the killing, also called on the Iraqi authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4363981\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4363981\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4363981\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/getty_69a84490a8-1772635280.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C565&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"BAGHDAD, IRAQ - MARCH 8 : Iraqi activist Yanar Mohammed, head of the Women's Freedom in Iraq Organization, speaks on March 8, 2006 during a celebration for the Women's day in Baghdad, Iraq. Yanar Mohammed said that occupation forces, Islamic laws and barbaric traditions govern the Iraqi society. (Photo by Akram Saleh \/Getty Images).\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4363981\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yanar Mohammed speaks during a Women\u2019s Day event in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2006 [Akram Saleh\/Getty]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cYanar Mohammed \u2026 dedicated her life to defending women\u2019s rights,\u201d Amnesty\u2019s Iraq researcher, Razaw Salihy, said in a statement. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mohammed was one of Iraq\u2019s most prominent women\u2019s rights activists, working since the early 2000s \u201cto protect women facing gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, trafficking, and so-called \u2018honour killings&#8217;\u201d, Front Line Defenders said.<\/p>\n<p>Her work included the establishment of safe houses, which sheltered hundreds of women experiencing exploitation and abuse.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/qHQaSUJe6ZU?si=5F0Xa8MmHQeQJwle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a 2022 interview<\/a> with Al Jazeera, Mohammed described her organisation\u2019s efforts to support Iraqi women who survived violence at the hands of ISIS (ISIL), which had seized control of large swathes of the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMuslim-Arab women who were enslaved by ISIL and have not found a place to go back to, they are still living in the shadows of the society,\u201d she said at the time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot less than 10,000 women were the victims of ISIL attack[s], and this femicide is not really acknowledged by the international community or dealt with in a way that keeps the dignity or the respect [of], or compensates, those who were the victims.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Women in Iraq struggle to recover from years of ISIL abuse\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qHQaSUJe6ZU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"years-of-threats\">Years of threats<\/h2>\n<p>Mohammed had been the target of death threats for decades, \u201caimed at dissuading her from defending women\u2019s rights\u201d, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontlinedefenders.org\/en\/case\/killing-woman-human-rights-defender-and-feminist-yanar-mohammed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Front Line Defenders said<\/a>. \u201cYet she remained defiant in the face of threats from ISIS and other armed groups.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, she was awarded the Rafto Prize \u201cfor her tireless work for women\u2019s rights in Iraq under extremely challenging conditions\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The Rafto Foundation, the Norway-based nonprofit group that administers the award, said it was \u201cdeeply shaken\u201d by her killing.\u00a0\u201cWe are deeply shocked by this brutal attack on one of the most courageous human rights defenders of our time,\u201d the foundation said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rafto.no\/en\/news\/the-rafto-foundation-in-deep-mourning-following-the-assassination-of-yanar-mohammed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe assassination represents not only an attack on Yanar Mohammed as a person, but also on the fundamental values she dedicated her life to defending: women\u2019s freedom, democracy, and universal human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other activists and human rights groups also paid tribute to Mohammed this week, with Human Rights Watch <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hrw\/status\/2028886809267061030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">describing her<\/a> as \u201cone of Iraq\u2019s most courageous advocates for women\u2019s rights\u201d for more than two decades.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYanar was a dear colleague and friend to so many of us in the women\u2019s rights and feminist community, one of our icons. She spent her life standing up for women\u2019s rights in the most dangerous environment,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AgnesCallamard\/status\/2028739434737258530\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said Agnes Callamard<\/a>, secretary-general of Amnesty International.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe faced constant threats, but she never stopped. And today we cry and mourn her energy, her commitment, her profound humanity, her amazing courage.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4363979\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4363979\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4363979\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/getty_69a8448b3d-1772635275.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C514&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"BAGHDAD, IRAQ - JULY 28: Yanar Mohammed, head of Women's Freedom in Iraq movement, speaks to reporters on July 28, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq. Mrs. Mohammed opposes the idea of regarding Islam as the major source for law in Iraq's new constitution and expressed her concerns about Iraq turning into another Afghanistan under a Taliban style rule. (Photo by Wathiq Khuzaie\/Getty Images)\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4363979\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mohammed speaks to reporters in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2005 [File: Wathiq Khuzaie\/Getty]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen to this article\u00a0|\u00a04 mins info The killing of prominent Iraqi women\u2019s rights activist Yanar Mohammed has fuelled an outpouring of grief and calls for justice, with advocates from around the world remembering Mohammed as a \u201ccourageous\u201d voice. Mohammed, 66, was killed earlier this week after unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire outside her [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13902"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13902\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}