Basra governor says investigation into psychiatrist’s death points to possible suicide

BASRA — Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani said findings in the investigation into the death of psychiatrist Ban Ziyad Tariq are expected Sunday, with current evidence still indicating the case may be a suicide and no suspect identified.

Tariq, a psychiatrist in her thirties, was found dead at her home in central Basra on Aug. 4. Police initially described the incident as a suicide, but fellow psychiatrist Mohammed Mahdi Mnakhour said injuries in the preliminary forensic report suggested torture and could not have been self-inflicted, calling for a “transparent and impartial investigation.”

The case has led to intense public speculation.

“All the evidence indicates that the incident could be a suicide, but we have to establish all the facts,” Al-Eidani said. He said the investigation, led by the Basra Directorate of Criminal Investigations, has been reviewed by the judiciary, which also examined audio recordings related to the case.

The governor said the forensic report and other analyses are expected Sunday. “Until now, there is no new information suggesting the operation was not a suicide or that it could be a murder,” he said. “If something appears that contradicts what is currently clear to the security services and the judiciary, the investigation will certainly proceed in that direction.”

Al-Eidani said there is no evidence of external interference. He urged media to report the case “accurately and away from controversy and sympathy,” criticizing social media speculation, including accusations against the victim’s brother. “Her brother is a weak young man, and until this moment, nothing has been proven against him,” he said.

“When the picture is complete, we will announce publicly whether the case is a suicide or a murder,” Al-Eidani said.

The Interior Ministry said Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari has ordered a committee from the ministry’s headquarters to travel to Basra to follow up on the investigation and coordinate with the judiciary.