Man allegedly kills wife and injures children in Duhok village

DUHOK — A man fatally shot his wife and injured their two children during a domestic dispute in a village within the Mangish sub-district, located 41 kilometres from Duhok city, local authorities reported on Saturday. The injured children were rushed to Azadi Hospital in Duhok, where they are receiving treatment and remain under close medical supervision.

Details about the identity of the suspect and the exact location of the incident have not been disclosed by officials.

Brindar Garmavi, head of the Mangish sub-district, confirmed the details in an interview with 964media, saying, “Following a social dispute in one of the villages, a man got into a fight with his wife, eventually shooting and killing her. He also shot and injured their son and daughter, both of whom are minors.”

The wife’s body was transferred to Duhok’s forensic department for examination. Local police have launched a formal investigation. Garmavi added, “The incident was the result of a social dispute, and the police and security forces have begun an inquiry.”

This case highlights rising concerns about domestic violence in the Kurdistan Region. Amnesty International, in a July report, criticized local authorities for “failing to ensure that perpetrators of domestic violence, including harrowing cases of murder, rape, beatings, and burning, are held to account.” The report noted that at least 30 women were killed in 2023 and 44 in 2022, with NGO workers suggesting that the real numbers could be higher.

The Kurdistan Region’s Domestic Violence Prevention Law No. 8 of 2011 codifies protection from domestic violence, particularly within the family where many violations occur. Many cases go unreported.

However, a report by Women’s Legal Assistance and the US National Endowment for Democracy published this year revealed that 13,489 domestic violence cases were recorded across the Kurdistan Region in 2023. The Directorate of Combating Violence Against Women and Families reported the highest number of cases in Erbil.