Kawthar Bashar Al-Husayjawi, 15, was killed in the Nahrawan area, east of Baghdad, after refusing an arranged marriage with her cousin, according to information published by the International non-profit organization Iraqi Women’s Rights and several other feminist groups earlier this week.
The murder was reportedly carried out under the justification of “washing shame,” a term associated with honor killing.
The independent feminist platform Sharika Walaken reported local residents claimed Al-Husayjawi had run away from home, as she didn’t want to be married to her older relative, and her family was led to believe she left with a young man.
Al-Husayjawi went missing on Wednesday night, and her absence was reported the next day, according to the organization. It is alleged that her family took issue with her conduct, leading her to be handed over to a different tribal group. She was then reportedly taken to a remote area and killed by multiple attackers, allegedly including her close relatives.
Videos shared by the platform are alleged to show the young girl’s family celebrating after her death. Iraqi journalist Aya Mansour reported that Al-Husayjawi’s mother filed a complaint, adding that she confirmed the validity of reports of the murder. Authorities have yet to comment on the case.
Iraqi law permits child marriage
The feminist organizations commenting on the case note that Iraq’s 2025 amendments to the country's 1959 Personal Status Law, which permits children as young as 9 to marry, have decreased protections against child abuse.
Articles 128 and 409 of the Iraqi penal code allow “honorable motives” to be used as a “mitigating excuse” in crimes, including homicide, which often translates to a reduced sentence, according to Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Population Fund.