Latest news with #OmedKhoshnaw
Rudaw Net
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Erbil authorities pledge justice for slain victims in gas station shooting
Also in Kurdistan Erbil launches first stage of green belt project President Barzani welcomes new US consul, reaffirms partnership with Washington US-led coalition support for Peshmerga to continue: Peshmerga ministry official Halabja not its own constituency in Iraq's parliamentary elections A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Erbil governor on Monday pledged that justice will be served in the wake of last week's deadly shooting that killed three people in the Kurdistan Region, assuring the victims' families that the law will have the final word. Omed Khoshnaw further cautioned against framing the incident as ethnically-motivated. Speaking at a joint press conference with the families of the victims in the Kurdish capital, Khoshnaw told reporters, including Rudaw's, that "the law will take its course," emphasizing that the "regrettable incident" should not be framed through an ethnic lens "as some channels have unfortunately portrayed it." It was 'a crime that was committed,' Khoshnaw stated, noting that 'there was no prior relationship between the perpetrator and the victims.' He further reaffirmed the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) full support for the bereaved families, noting that the accused is already in custody and will be held accountable. 'The law will take its course,' Khoshnaw pledged. The deadly shooting that sent shockwaves across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq last week, occurred on Wednesday after a dispute over spilled fuel escalated at a gas station along the Erbil-Kasnazan west of Erbil city. An eyewitness then-recounted to Rudaw that the altercation escalated when a gas station employee retrieved a Kalashnikov rifle and opened fire on a customer and another individual after they reportedly refused to pay for the spillage. Among the victims were Iraqi bodybuilder Hamoudi Riyadh and his friend Abdullah Adnan. A third civilian was reportedly caught in the crossfire and killed, according to Rudaw's correspondent on the scene. At Monday's press conference, Adnan Ibrahim - the father of one of the slain victims - called for the perpetrator to receive 'capital punishment, which is execution," and for any parties who were negligent to be held accountable. He expressed gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for its swift action and commitment to justice, noting that the suspect was arrested 'less than an hour' after committing the crime. Ibrahim also thanked preeminent Kurdish leader and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) head Masoud Barzani, as well as Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, for their 'solidarity with the victims' families.' The tragic shooting has reignited concerns over the widespread availability of firearms in the Kurdistan Region. Despite efforts by the KRG to regulate gun ownership, illegal weapons remain a persistent security threat. Black markets for firearms - ranging from handguns to sniper rifles and machine guns - continue to thrive, with an estimated 70 percent of the Region's population reportedly owning a firearm. In 2022, the Kurdistan Region passed a weapons law aimed at tightening control. Article 15 of the law stipulates that 'any individual who does not own a license, carries, sells, repairs, or distributes a firearm will be jailed for one to three years and fined between two million to five million dinars (approximately $1,500 to $3,800).'
Shafaq News
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Erbil Governor meets families of fuel station shooting victims
Shafaq News – Erbil On Monday, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw met the families of three victims killed in a fuel station shooting, receiving their thanks for his support and calls for justice. The shooting took place last Wednesday on the Erbil–Kasnazan road, when a dispute between two young Arab men and a station worker ended with the worker opening fire with a Kalashnikov, killing both men and fatally wounding a bystander. Police arrested the suspect immediately, classifying the case as a major crime. In a press conference after the meeting, the families said Khoshnaw assured them the investigation would proceed under the law and that the perpetrator would face trial, expressing confidence their loved ones' deaths would not be in vain. One victim's father praised the Kurdistan Regional Government's response, saying it demonstrated unity and equality before the law.
Shafaq News
11-08-2025
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan's Erbil mourns prominent bodybuilder
Shafaq news – Erbil On Monday, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw met with the family of bodybuilder Hamoudi Riyadh, who was killed days ago in a shooting at a fuel station. According to the governor's media office, Khoshnaw updated the family on the investigation, assuring them that the court will issue and carry out a death sentence. Currently visiting Erbil to attend to affairs related to the tragedy, the family is also expected to meet Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani during their visit. Local police reported that the fatal incident began last Wednesday with a dispute between a car driver and a fuel station employee near Majidi Mall in Erbil. The argument quickly escalated to gunfire, killing three people, including Riyadh. Riyadh, known for his competitive spirit and strong ethics, was a prominent young bodybuilder who held several Regional and national titles.
Shafaq News
08-08-2025
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan Region prepares to host Iranian pilgrims en route to Karbala
Shafaq News – Erbil The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Friday designated the Erbil International Exhibition Center as a main hub for receiving Iranian pilgrims heading to Karbala for the Arbaeen pilgrimage. According to Shafaq News correspondent, tens of thousands of pilgrims continue to arrive in Erbil through the Haji Omran border crossing and other entry points toward central and southern Iraq. Under the KRG's official plan, four key stations have been designated to assist pilgrims: the Haji Omran border gate, Kani Miran area, the Erbil Expo Center, and the Sherawa checkpoint. Additional mobile stations have also been deployed along the roads to facilitate movement and provide services. The Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) is overseeing many of the support services, operating around the clock with field teams offering food, medical aid, transportation, and general assistance. Authorities have provided logistical facilities, including food, water, internet access, mobile clinics, cooling stations, sleeping tents, and ambulance services. Last year, more than 110,000 Iranian pilgrims entered through Kurdistan Region crossings, with nearly 3,000 medical cases treated and no major traffic incidents reported. In a joint press conference with Iranian Consul General Faramarz Asadi, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw noted that the number of visitors is increasing daily and may surpass last year's figures. He affirmed that the KRG is committed to ensuring the safety and smooth passage of pilgrims in cooperation with relevant security and service institutions, as well as charitable organizations, particularly the Barzani Charity Foundation.
Shafaq News
03-06-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
CCHF on the rise: Kurdistan on high alert ahead of Eid al-Adha
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, health officials in the Kurdistan Region confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Zakho, Duhok province, prompting authorities to tighten public health measures ahead of Eid al-Adha. CCHF carries a high fatality rate and often resurfaces around Eid al-Adha due to increased animal handling. Health officials have warned that unregulated slaughter practices significantly raise transmission risks. Zakho reported that a 28-year-old shepherd from Duhok tested positive after samples were confirmed by Iraq's central laboratory in Baghdad. In response, Erbil province issued directives banning public animal slaughter during Eid. 'Animal sacrifices must take place only in designated facilities after veterinary inspection,' the province stated. Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw further emphasized the importance of cross-agency coordination 'to ensure a safe and organized holiday.' Municipal teams have also been instructed to monitor markets, enforce sanitary standards, and ensure compliance with food safety regulations across districts. According to the Shafaq News tracker, Iraq has recorded 50 confirmed cases of CCHF since the start of 2025, including nine deaths.
