On the 9th of February, Emma Organization became aware of the killing of the 26-year-old Sarween Khosheet in the neighborhood of Azadi in Koya. When the news of her family refusing to receive her body broke out, Emma in coordination with other activists and human rights organizations reached out to the related ministries requesting to receive Sarween’s body and carry out the burial rituals.

In joint action with the Medical Examiner’s Office, Emma sent an official letter to Koya Police Station to request for release of her body. After this letter was submitted, Sarween’s parents decided to take her body, rejecting Emma’s request.

We want to send a message to all that we, as a collective of organizations, will take the role of the family to those individuals who do not have any. We want everyone to be aware that we will strongly work for women’s rights while pushing organizations and communities to combat violence against women in the Kurdistan Region. We send a special thanks to the media outlets for helping to bring exposure to this horrendous crime.