Yanar Mohammed and Iraq’s Struggle for Gender Equality and Accountability

On 2 March 2026, Iraqi feminist and human rights defender Yanar Mohammed was shot and killed outside her home in Baghdad by unidentified gunmen. Her assassination came just one day before so-called Iraqi Women’s Day. While this day is meant to celebrate women, the event underscores the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the lack of accountability for violence against activists in the region.