Man kills wife in Bnaslawa, surrenders to police

ERBIL — A man shot and killed his wife in Bnaslawa on Thursday before turning himself in to police, authorities confirmed.

In a statement, the Erbil Governorate Police Directorate said, “After we were informed today of a murder case in Bnaslawa, our forces immediately arrived at the scene. It was found that a man had killed his wife over a social dispute.” The statement added, “The suspect surrendered himself to our forces at the Erbil Police Directorate. An investigation into the case has been launched, and the accused has been referred to the judiciary.”

A Bnaslawa police source told 964media, “The victim was shot seven times by her husband. Her body has been transferred to the forensic medical department in Erbil.”

One of the victim’s relatives told 964media, “They had ongoing problems, and this is how it ended.”

In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, violence against women remains a critical issue, with “honor killings” and family disputes among the prevalent forms of such violence. Despite legal reforms and efforts by the Kurdistan Regional Government to combat these crimes, enforcement is inconsistent, and perpetrators frequently evade justice.

On Feb 8, Hana Shwan, spokesperson for the Rewan Women’s Media and Culture Organization, told 964media, “The statistics on violence and the killing of women have increased. Last year, 48 women were killed, and since the beginning of 2025, eight women have already been murdered. This is a dangerous indicator.”

She added, “The mindset of violence is the main cause of femicide, psychological violence, economic hardship, social and political factors, and the influence of the digital sphere were among the most common forms of violence committed against women.”

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