Further details emerge in Al-Diwaniyah pharmacist’s killing

AL-DIWANIYAH — Family members are demanding action after a pharmacist was fatally shot in front of her granddaughter in Al-Diwaniyah governorate. The suspect, identified by the victim’s family as the ex-husband of her daughter, allegedly traveled from Erbil to commit the crime. The victim’s husband reported prior incidents involving the suspect, including arson attacks on their vehicle and home. He is appealing to the Kurdistan Regional Government to apprehend and extradite the suspect to face justice.

Haider Al-Ibrahimi, the victim’s husband, recounted the incident to 964media saying, “the individual is from Erbil and is my daughter’s ex-husband. He entered the pharmacy, greeted us normally, and then committed his crime by shooting my daughter, injuring her in the jaw area. He then shot my wife, killing her in front of the pharmacy.”

Al-Ibrahimi added that the perpetrator had an accomplice waiting nearby and had previously assaulted the family, “he attacked me with an electric baton, causing me to lose consciousness, and severed my earlobe with a sharp instrument. Shortly thereafter, he set fire to my 2019 Jeep and later burned our house while we were inside.”

He appealed to the KRG authorities, stating, “we urge the Kurdistan Regional Government, especially [Prime Minister] Mr. Masrour Barzani and the Minister of Interior [Reber Ahmed], to help us by apprehending this criminal and bringing him to justice.”

Zahraa Haider, the victim’s daughter and an eyewitness, described the harrowing event to 964media, “My 7-year-old daughter and I were at the pharmacy to close it and take my mother home. We were surprised when the perpetrator entered with a gun, greeted us, and then opened fire on me, my mother. He shot me in the jaw, and when my mother went outside to seek help, he shot her dead in front of the pharmacy.”

The family is calling on the KRG to take action to apprehend the suspect and ensure he faces legal consequences for his actions.

On Dec. 10, Al-Diwaniyah Police released a statement shedding light on the murder of a pharmacist, identifying the suspect as her daughter’s ex-husband, and attributing the crime to a family dispute dating back two years.

The statement also confirmed progress in the investigation. “Security forces have arrested one of the perpetrators and are continuing to pursue the second suspect to bring him to justice. Investigations remain ongoing to uncover the full details of the incident.”