News Center – Despite repeated calls for legal reforms and an end to the culture of silence surrounding gender-based violence, many Iraqi cities continue to see a worrying rise in femicides, fueled by weak legal deterrence and inadequate victim protection.

In Salah al-Din, north of Baghdad, university professor Khetam Ahmed Al-Shammari was killed on the evening of August 27 by her cousin after she rejected his marriage proposal.

Local media reports indicate the murder followed escalating family disputes. The perpetrator shot Al-Shammari, killing her instantly, before fleeing the scene.

The case underscores the absence of legal safeguards and accountability for perpetrators, reflecting a broader pattern of brutal violence against women in Iraq.