Murder of Khwanas Wirya
Khwanas Wirya (Kurdish: خواناس وریا) was an Iraqi Kurdish theatre performer and artist who was murdered in the city of Chamchamal, Iraqi Kurdistan, on June 22, 2023.
Background[edit]
Wirya (b. 2001) was an actor, athlete, and painter who grew up in Chamchamal. He left Iraq to work in the United Arab Emirates at a car garage. While living in the UAE, he left Islam and became a vocal critic of all religions. Wirya returned to Chamchamal in June 2023 to visit his family and friends.[1][2]
Murder and arrest[edit]
On 22 June, around 5:30pm, Wirya was shot 10 times in a crowded market by a motorcyclist who fled the scene.[3]
Hersh Karim, aged 28, was arrested and was very complaint during his interrogation and confessed to the murder. Karim was an active duty soldier in the Peshmerga, specifically the PUK wing. After Wirya's killing, Karim posted on his Facebook taking pride in his actions. He also had posted many pictures of Mullah Halo, a famous Kurdish Salafi cleric.[4][5] Mullah Halo denied any involvement in the murder.[6]
Wirya's killing went viral and brought up discussions about the growth of radical views and Salafism among Kurds.[7][8]
References[edit]
- ^ "بنەماڵەی خواناس وریا: کوشتنی کوڕەکەمان بە تیرۆرێکی بێ پاساو و ناڕەوا دەزانین". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "خواناس وریا، لەسەر رەخنەی ئاینی رۆحیان لێسەندەوە.. "هیچ تاوانێک بایی ئەوە نییە تۆ ڕۆح لەمرۆڤێک بسەنیتەوەو بیکوژیت"". speemedia.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "بنەماڵەی خواناس وریا: کوشتنی کوڕەکەمان بە تیرۆرێکی بێ پاساو و ناڕەوا دەزانین". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "کەسوکاری تۆمەتبار بە کوشتنی (خواناس وریا گلی) بۆ دەنگی ئەمەریکا دەدوێن". www.dengiamerika.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "خواناس وریا، لەسەر رەخنەی ئاینی رۆحیان لێسەندەوە.. "هیچ تاوانێک بایی ئەوە نییە تۆ ڕۆح لەمرۆڤێک بسەنیتەوەو بیکوژیت"". speemedia.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "Mullah Halo denies any involvement in the murder of Khwanas Warya "the king of the street"". drawmedia.net. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ إنفوبلاس (2023-06-24). "سلفيون منتشرون في البيشمركة يقتلون الفنان خواناس وريا علناً والقاتل يتباهى!". إنفوبلاس (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "Who's to blame for creeping religious extremism in Kurdistan?". The Citadel. 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
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