Truth
A visual journey through activism and resilience.
Soran Mama Hama – 23 years old
Soran was a young Kurdish journalist from Kirkuk who worked for Livin Magazine. On 21 July 2008, he was shot and killed outside his home after publishing reports exposing corruption involving local officials and police. Before his death, he had received multiple threats warning him to stop writing. His murder shocked the region and became one of the first major cases symbolising the danger of telling the truth in Kurdistan.
Sardasht Osman – 23 years old
Sardasht was a writer and university student from Erbil who fearlessly criticised powerful Kurdish leaders in his articles. On 4 May 2010, he was abducted in front of his college; two days later, his body was found near Mosul. Reports by Free Press Unlimited and Human Rights Watch found credible evidence linking his killing to Kurdish authorities. His death became a symbol of the price paid by those who dared to challenge corruption and authority.
Kawa Garmyani – 32 years old
Kawa was a respected investigative journalist from Kalar, known for exposing corruption and government abuse. On 5 December 2013, he was shot dead outside his home shortly after announcing he would release evidence of corruption involving senior officials. His courage inspired many, but his killing exposed the deep risks faced by Kurdish journalists who refuse to stay silent.
Wedad (Widad) Hussein Ali – 28 years old
Wedad was a reporter for RojNews and known for his coverage of political repression and security abuses. On 13 August 2016, he was abducted and found dead near Duhok, showing clear signs of torture. He had previously been threatened by security services for his reporting. His murder was condemned by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, but justice was never served.
Jihan Taha – 30 years old
Jihan was a Kurdish journalist and women’s rights advocate from the Sulaymaniyah region. She was known for reporting on corruption and gender-based violence. In 2020, she was found dead under suspicious circumstances after facing threats connected to her work and outspoken posts online. Human-rights groups and local activists called for an independent investigation, saying her death reflects the growing danger faced by women who speak out in Kurdistan.
Sherwan Sherwani – 39 years old
Sherwan is a Kurdish journalist and editor known for investigating corruption and human-rights abuses. In October 2020, he was arrested by Kurdish security forces and later sentenced to six years in prison — a verdict condemned by international rights groups as politically motivated. His imprisonment has turned him into a symbol of press freedom and the high cost of speaking the truth in Kurdistan.
They were more than journalists, writers, and activists — they were voices that refused to be silenced. Each one spoke the truth in a place where truth can cost you everything. Their lives were taken, but their courage still burns like a light that can’t be put out. These faces are not just memories; they are the heartbeat of a struggle that continues. Every article written, every protest shouted, and every act of defiance carries a piece of them. They remind us that freedom isn’t given — it’s fought for, and sometimes it’s paid for in blood.
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