Raising Awareness in Memory of Sardasht Osman: Dakok Rallies UK Cities Against Human Rights Violations

The Dakok Organization is calling upon the Kurdish community and human rights advocates across the United Kingdom to join peaceful, coordinated Commemoration on May 5, 2025, in a powerful act of remembrance and resistance. These gatherings will both commemorate the life and legacy of slain journalist Sardasht Osman and raise awareness about ongoing human rights violations in the Iraq.

Sardasht Osman, a courageous 23-year-old journalist and university student from Erbil, was abducted on May 4, 2010, near Salahaddin University. Two days later, his body was found in Mosul, bearing the marks of an execution. Known for his bold criticism of the Kurdistan Regional Government—particularly the Barzani family’s influence—Osman paid the ultimate price for speaking truth to power. His satirical piece, “I am in love with Barzani’s daughter,” drew widespread attention and, reportedly, threats that foreshadowed his tragic fate.

Investigations into his murder have been widely condemned for a lack of transparency and credibility. A 2022 report by A Safer World for the Truth—a joint initiative by Free Press Unlimited, Reporters Without Borders, and the Committee to Protect Journalists—found credible indications that Kurdish authorities were involved in Osman’s assassination, followed by patterns of intimidation and harassment toward others who spoke out.

Dakok stresses that Osman’s case is not an isolated tragedy, but a reflection of a broader crisis: arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and violent suppression of journalists, activists, and dissenters in the region. These peaceful demonstrations will honor Sardasht Osman’s legacy and demand justice—for him and for all victims of political violence in Kurdistan.

• Date: Monday, May 5, 2025
• Time: 1:00 PM (Local Time)

Cities & Locations:

• London: 21 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, SW7 5JE
• Manchester: Norfolk Street, M2 1DW
• Birmingham: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH
• Cardiff: Queen Street, CF10 2GR
• Leeds: Millennium Square, LS2 3AD
• Newcastle: Barras Bridge, NE1 7RS
• Glasgow: Barrowland Park, Gallowgate, G1 5BG

The Dakok Organization urges everyone who believes in freedom of expression, justice, and human dignity—especially the Kurdish youth in the UK—to participate in these peaceful gathering. Let us come together, raise our voices, and stand united against injustice. Together, we honor Sardasht Osman not only with words, but with action.