Sardasht Osman
Encyclopedia
Sardasht Osman was an Iraqi
Kurdish
final-year university student from Arbil
who was kidnapped between 0700 and 0800 a.m. local time on 4 May 2010 outside the College of Arts in Arbil where he studied English. Two days later his body was found in neighbouring Mosul
city. He was known in Iraqi Kurdistan
for articles criticizing the Kurdistan Regional Government
. Some of his articles were published under a pseudonym on several Kurdish websites, including Kurdistan Post .
, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), one of the two Kurdish ruling parties, and the Barzani family in charge of the KDP. Their prominent officials included, Kurdistan Region President and KDP leader Massoud Barzani, KDP deputy leader, former regional PM Nechirvan Barzani and head of the security agency known as Parastin, Masrur Barzani. Nechirvan is Massoud Barzani's nephew, while Masrur is his son. Osman wrote articles for independent news websites, only a few of which have been translated into English.
. The threats were aimed at Osman and his family.
Osman was abducted on 3 May. According to eyewitnesses and the police an unidentified white Hyundai
minibus with a concealed number plate stopped in front of the college just as Osman exited. The men then pushed him into the van and drove off. His handcuffed body was found two days later outside Mosul
, which had been a haven for al-Qaida in Iraq
, with two bullets in his head.
and the Kurdistan Region Presidency (KRP): The KRG and KRP strongly condemned the abduction and killing of Osman and said it was "a crime designed to undermine the security of the region and to attack the life and liberty of the people."
. Many independent media organizations condmened the killing and called for an independent investigation. Rallys and mass demonstration were held inside and outside of Iraqi Kurdistan
calling for the those responsible to be arrested.
Iraqi people
The Iraqi people or Mesopotamian people are natives or inhabitants of the country of Iraq, known since antiquity as Mesopotamia , with a large diaspora throughout the Arab World, Europe, the Americas, and...
Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
final-year university student from Arbil
Arbil
Arbil / Hewlêr is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul...
who was kidnapped between 0700 and 0800 a.m. local time on 4 May 2010 outside the College of Arts in Arbil where he studied English. Two days later his body was found in neighbouring Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
city. He was known in Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
for articles criticizing the Kurdistan Regional Government
Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
. Some of his articles were published under a pseudonym on several Kurdish websites, including Kurdistan Post .
Work
Osman's work was best known for being critical of the Kurdistan Regional GovernmentKurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), one of the two Kurdish ruling parties, and the Barzani family in charge of the KDP. Their prominent officials included, Kurdistan Region President and KDP leader Massoud Barzani, KDP deputy leader, former regional PM Nechirvan Barzani and head of the security agency known as Parastin, Masrur Barzani. Nechirvan is Massoud Barzani's nephew, while Masrur is his son. Osman wrote articles for independent news websites, only a few of which have been translated into English.
Kidnapping and assassination
Osman received death threats through email and telephone almost immediately after writing an article about Massoud BarzaniMassoud Barzani
Massoud Barzani is the current President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Barzani was born in Mahabad, Iran, during the rule of the Republic of Mahabad...
. The threats were aimed at Osman and his family.
Osman was abducted on 3 May. According to eyewitnesses and the police an unidentified white Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
minibus with a concealed number plate stopped in front of the college just as Osman exited. The men then pushed him into the van and drove off. His handcuffed body was found two days later outside Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, which had been a haven for al-Qaida in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, with two bullets in his head.
Reaction
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
and the Kurdistan Region Presidency (KRP): The KRG and KRP strongly condemned the abduction and killing of Osman and said it was "a crime designed to undermine the security of the region and to attack the life and liberty of the people."
- Kurdistan Democratic Party: The KDP demanded the security and related foundations to shed light on the "latest events".
- Jalal TalabaniJalal TalabaniJalal Talabani is the sixth and current President of Iraq, a leading Kurdish politician. He is the first non-Arab president of Iraq, although Abdul Kareem Qasim was half Kurdish....
:In a statement, Jalal Talabani condemned the abduction and killing of Osman. He expressed his condolences to Osman's family, friends and colleagues. - Barham SalihBarham SalihBarham Ahmad Salih is an Iraqi Kurdish politician. He is currently the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He is married and has a daughter who attended Princeton University and a son who graduated from King's Academy in Madaba, Jordan and currently attends Columbia.-Early life:Dr....
: Barham Salih said he was at dismayed at murder of Osman. - Massoud BarzaniMassoud BarzaniMassoud Barzani is the current President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Barzani was born in Mahabad, Iran, during the rule of the Republic of Mahabad...
: Massoud Barzani urged the security forces to probe into the case and called for an independent committee to follow the investigation. - Kurdistan Region Presidency: The Kurdistan Region Presidency immediately issued a statement condemning Osman's murder and calling for an investigation into the incident. In its statement, the Kurdistan Region Presidency stated "We reiterate our gratitude to those in the free press whose role has advanced the cause of freedom in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. We remain resolute in our efforts to ensure that all citizens of the Kurdistan Region are free to enjoy the human rights afforded to democratic citizens the world over."
- Veteran Journalists: Open letter to the Kurdistan Regional Government from journalists who have covered Iraqi Kurdistan for many years. At Committee to Protect Journalists:
Aftermath
His death came as a shock to most in Iraqi KurdistanIraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. Many independent media organizations condmened the killing and called for an independent investigation. Rallys and mass demonstration were held inside and outside of Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
calling for the those responsible to be arrested.