Iraqi security forces have arrested the individual involved in the murder of the young woman Nourzan Al-Shammari, revealing that he is her brother, a development that has shocked the public. Last week, Al-Shammari was stabbed three times by assailants while returning home in the evening after working at a confectionery shop.
The Baghdad Criminal Investigation Directorate announced on Saturday night that the killer has been apprehended. In a statement, they said, "In a short time, the killer of Nourzan is in the hands of the criminal investigations."
For his part, Major General Saad Maan, Director of the Public Relations and Media Department at the Ministry of Interior, disclosed the identity of the killer, indicating that he is Nourzan's brother, who committed the crime in collaboration with his cousins. Maan stated, "After field efforts and gathering information, and through continuous monitoring and forming a specialized working team along with obtaining judicial approvals, the Baghdad Criminal Investigation Directorate managed to arrest the killer of the late (Nourzan), who is her brother due to family problems."
Maan added that "the accused is the one who stabbed her and is the main perpetrator of her death in cooperation with two of his cousins, and the search is ongoing for them after security forces identified their identities." He noted that "the perpetrator confessed to his crime and the killing of his sister."
Prior to this, social media pages had speculated that some of the deceased girl's relatives might be involved in her murder due to family issues. This horrific crime that shook Baghdad has brought the issue of rising violence against women in Iraq to light, along with increasing rates of crimes related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment.
A source close to the family mentioned that "Al-Shammari's brother is an affiliate of the Counter-Terrorism Service, and there had been verbal arguments and conflicts previously with Nourzan on one side, and her brother and cousins on the other side, where they wanted her to quit her job, which she relied on for her living, claiming they would take care of her and her mother, which did not happen."
The source, who preferred to remain anonymous for "Sky News Arabia," added that "the problems escalated to the level of threats to kill her, which intensified Nourzan's determination to confront them, but she found no one to support her, especially since she is a girl and young."
He confirmed that "Nourzan repeatedly refused to leave Iraq, as she has some relatives abroad but did not wish to leave her country." The hashtag "Nourzan's Right, the Victim of Harassment" trended on Twitter in Iraq, as activists shared news of Nourzan Al-Shammari’s sexual assault and murder by three men near the Jadriah Bridge.
Social media users, claiming to be friends of the victim, stated that Nourzan had recently posted on her social media accounts about not feeling safe on her way to work. The incident sparked a wave of anger among Iraqi activists, who condemned it in the strongest terms.
In this context, a researcher at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Mona Al-Amiri, stated that "the crime reveals the depth of the psychological and moral degradation that these individuals live in, as they killed their daughter in cold blood, with premeditation and determination, highlighting the need for Iraqi society for more rehabilitation and support to reduce the severity of the crimes witnessed in the country on a daily basis."
Al-Amiri added in a statement to "Sky News Arabia" that "it is essential for the competent authorities, such as the Ministry of Interior and supporting entities, to reevaluate their plans, both security and psychological operations, and to activate awareness programs, training sessions, and more."
