Shelters for Women in Iraq

On March 2, 2026, Yanar Mohammed – one of the most formidable feminist leaders of her generation – was assassinated in her home in Baghdad in what appears to have been a targeted militia attack. We are devastated by her loss, and we mourn with all the people who loved her and whose lives she changed.

For years, Yanar lived under constant threat, as anti-rights and fundamentalist forces sought to suppress her activism for human rights and democracy. She knew all too well how war-making devastates communities and accelerates attacks on human rights defenders. In 2004, just after the US launched its war on Iraq, she founded the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) to protect women, girls, and other marginalized people from these dangers. Almost immediately, she received death threats. She refused to be silent – instead, she called for the solidarity of the international women’s movement. MADRE responded to her, spotlighting her lifesaving work, demanding action from US policymakers, and launching decades of partnership.

Together, MADRE and OWFI provided humanitarian aid, human rights trainings, and community-led organizing for peace and justice throughout Iraq. We provided advocacy and legal support as OWFI fought back against restrictions on women’s shelters and against a years-long campaign of state harassment to impede their work. MADRE continues to stand by OWFI now, in the terrible wake of Yanar’s assassination.

Yanar’s assassination is a stark reminder of the risks feminist leaders continue to face globally, and of the ongoing threats to human rights movements. Yet, we also remember that Yanar’s life was a testament to feminist courage rooted in action and fueled by love. She protected people in dangerous situations, created platforms for women to speak out, and insisted that all people deserve full rights.

As we grieve, we honor a beautiful life that propelled justice – with joy, purpose, love, and courage. With your support, MADRE is partnering with OWFI and regional feminist allies to strengthen security, sustain essential programs, and support the next generation of women leaders who will carry forward Yanar’s vision. Together, we are helping safeguard the networks, resources, and collective power that women-led movements need to remain resilient, coordinated, and effective during periods of targeted violence and political instability.

Read President Emeritus Yifat Susskind’s letter and eulogy remembering Iraqi feminist, long-time MADRE partner, and personal friend Yanar Mohammed in the aftermath of her assassination through the links below. 

Links:

• Remembering Yanar Mohammed: Her Fight Is Our Fight
• Eulogy for My Friend and Freedom Fighter, Yanar Mohammed