Together, the NGOs below express our deep sadness and horror at the brutal murders of Dr. Sana Kamal, Dr. Sanaria Kamal, Sabahat Zahir, and Mamosta Kamal Koyee this past weekend. This heinous act of violence, perpetrated by the husband of Dr. Sana after she suffered years of abuse, demands urgent attention and action.

Femicide is an egregious violation of human rights and a pervasive issue that continues to plague our communities. In 2024, 40 women were murdered in the Kurdistan Region and to date this year, 15 women have been murdered, with 8 killed by firearms. There are no publicly accessible statistics on femicide and it goes largely unreported.

No woman should ever have to live in fear of violence or death. Forced marriage, coercion, and restrictions on a woman’s right to leave an abusive relationship are all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) that enable such horrific crimes to occur. This tragedy is a stark reminder that violence can affect anyone—regardless of education, profession, social class, or religion. Dr. Sana was a highly educated, affluent, and religiously observant woman, yet she was still subjected to years of abuse and murder. GBV knows no boundaries; it is rooted in harmful societal attitudes.

We call on government institutions, religious and community leaders, and all sectors of society to:

1. Ensure justice for all victims of femicide by holding perpetrators fully accountable under the law, including in the case of Dr. Sana.
2. Strengthen legal protections and enforcement in the public justice system for women to protect their rights and seek justice without fear or stigma.
3. Invest in protection mechanisms by expanding access to shelters, legal aid, and psychological support for women facing violence.
4. Increase family and other support to survivors of domestic violence to prevent the escalation of violence.
5. Engage men and boys in efforts to end violence against women, emphasizing that being a man should never be linked to dominance, coercion, or violence.
6. Ensure the participation of women to shape policies and services that directly address their needs and fosters accountability in the justice system.
7. Ensure responsible media coverage that condemns GBV, holds perpetrators accountable, and does not normalize or justify violence through language that minimizes the crime or shifts blame onto victims. No media outlet should provide a platform for a murderer to defend or justify their crimes.

This murder is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of violence against women that must be urgently addressed. Dr. Sana was subjected to domestic violence throughout her marriage. When domestic violence against women is allowed to go unchecked, when womens’ rights and safety are not protected, it can and does escalate to murder.

Femicide – the murder of women – is preventable. It doesn’t happen in isolation and is not a surprise; rather, it is the culmination of escalating violence. Families, friends, communities, religious leaders, and the government all have a duty to prevent tragedies like this. Who among us will defend or justify such a heinous crime?

We stand in solidarity with all women facing threats to their safety and reaffirm our commitment to a world where no woman is forced to remain in an abusive relationship, where no family is torn apart by violence, and where justice is swift and uncompromising in cases of femicide.

The NGOs below are committed to unified and joint action to address femicide in Kurdistan, to hold all perpetrators accountable, and to work towards building healthy families and safe communities:

• SEED

• Asuda Organization For Combating Violence Against Women
• Emma Organization for Development
• Amazha Organization for Development
• Al Messalla for Human Development
• Zhnan-Women Union of Kurdistan
• Kurdistan Women Union
• INMA Organization for Development
• Mrovsentary Organization for Human Rights
• Women Empowerment Organization (WEO)
• Women’s Rehabilitation Organization (WRO)
• People’s Development Organization (PDO)
• U.S. Global Human Rights Organization
• Kurdistan Industrious Women Organization
• Congress of Freedom and Change Organization (CFC)
• Women Association Kurdistan
• The Lotus Flower Organization