US condemns 'honor' killing in Duhok, calls for investigation
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United States Consulate General Erbil condemned on Thursday the recent “honor” killing of Doski Azad in Duhok and asked local authorities to investigate.
“The United States notes with concern media reports that Doski Azad, a resident of Duhok, was the victim of a so-called ‘honor’ killing,” read a statement posted on the consulate’s official Twitter account.
“We categorically condemn this violence and the discrimination that is undoubtedly at the root of this crime,” the statement added. “We ask the authorities to thoroughly investigate this murder and prosecute the perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law.”
— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USConGenErbil) February 3, 2022
Azad, a 23-year-old makeup artist, was murdered by her brother who was living in Europe.
The authorities are investigating this crime and are cooperating with Interpol to arrest the perpetrator, who is believed to have escaped from the Kurdistan Region since committing the murder, according to a statement provided to Kurdistan 24 by Duhok police.
In 2004, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) passed a law that denies reduced sentences for perpetrators of so-called “honor” crimes. The KRG has also suspended several Iraqi laws that discriminate against women.
Last April, a 21-year-old woman was murdered by her husband in Erbil. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani tweeted that he was “appalled” by that crime.
“There is no honor in ‘honor’ killings; it is murder, sets us back, and must end,” he said.