Yanar Mohammed was an Iraqi feminist and woman human rights defender. She was a prominent advocate for women’s rights and the co-founder and director of the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI). Born in Baghdad, Yanar Mohammed devoted more than two decades to defending women facing gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, trafficking and so-called “honour” killings. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, Yanar Mohammed helped establish OWFI and launched the first network of women’s shelters in Iraq, providing protection and support to hundreds of women at risk of violence and persecution across several cities. She also worked to expose gender-based abuses, campaigned for secularism and equality under Iraqi law, and served as editor of the feminist newspaper Al-Mousawat (“Equality”). Throughout her activism, Yanar Mohammed faced persistent threats, harassment and smear campaigns due to her outspoken advocacy for women’s rights and social justice. On 02 March 2026, Yanar Mohammed was shot by unidentified gunmen outside her home in northern Baghdad and later died from her wounds in hospital. Her killing occurred shortly after her return to Iraq from Canada and has been widely condemned by Iraqi and international human rights organisations as a targeted assassination intended to silence one of the most prominent voices of the feminist movement in Iraq. Human rights organisations have called on the Iraqi authorities to carry out a prompt, independent and transparent investigation into the killing of Yanar Mohammed, to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and to guarantee effective protection for human rights defenders working in Iraq.