Kurdish man kills his wife in Erbil, and surrenders to police

Kurdish man kills wife in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, police say — A Kurdish woman was killed by her husband, who later turned himself in to authorities, in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, on February 27, 2025. Erbil Police/Handout

ERBIL,— A woman was shot dead by her husband on Thursday in the Bnaslawa district of Erbil province, Iraqi Kurdistan, marking yet another case of domestic violence in the region, according to local police and health officials.

Authorities said the killing took place before noon, and officers arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report. The suspect later turned himself in at the Erbil Police Directorate.

“Initial findings indicate the murder was the result of a social dispute,” police said in a statement, using a term often associated with domestic violence or honor-based crimes.

Officials confirmed the victim’s body was released to her family, and no further forensic review was requested.

Both police and health officials confirmed that the woman was shot dead with a Kalashnikov rifle.

This incident is the eighth recorded femicide in Iraqi Kurdistan in the past month. Advocacy groups warn that violence against women remains a critical issue despite ongoing efforts to curb gender-based crimes.

According to a February 2025 report from the Campaign Against Killing Women, at least 48 women were murdered in femicide cases across Iraqi Kurdistan in 2024. The highest number of killings was recorded in Erbil Governorate, where 18 women lost their lives.

Activists cite forced marriages, honor killings, and domestic abuse as persistent problems in the region. In January, a 26-year-old female member of the Zeravani militia forces was allegedly killed by her brother. That same month, a Kurdish woman in Penjwen was murdered by her husband, who reportedly dismembered her remains.

In a separate case earlier in February 2025, an Iraqi model and social media influencer was found dead in Erbil after being strangled and burned, further raising concerns about gender-based violence in the region.

Authorities say investigations into Thursday’s killing are ongoing, and the suspect remains in detention pending legal proceedings.