On May 5, 2025, DAKOK organization held coordinated commemorative events in Bradford—to honor the life and legacy of Sardasht Osman, a young Kurdish journalist assassinated in 2010 for his fearless critique of power and corruption in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Sardasht Osman was a 23-year-old student of English literature at Salahaddin University in Erbil when he was kidnapped outside his campus on May 4, 2010. Two days later, his tortured body was found in Mosul. Osman had been receiving death threats after publishing a series of satirical and critical articles targeting the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). One of his most famous pieces, titled “I Am in Love with Barzani’s Daughter,” metaphorically exposed the vast inequality and nepotism entrenched within the region’s political elite.
Despite widespread outcry, no one has ever been held accountable for Osman’s murder. Investigations into the case were widely criticized as lacking transparency and credibility. In 2022, a joint report by Free Press Unlimited, Reporters Without Borders, and the Committee to Protect Journalists stated that credible evidence pointed to involvement by Kurdish officials, raising serious concerns about impunity and the silencing of dissent in the Kurdistan Region.
Through these commemorative events, DAKOK aimed to spotlight the ongoing suppression of freedom of speech, violations of human rights, and systematic targeting of journalists and activists in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The organization emphasized that Sardasht Osman’s case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of repression faced by those who challenge entrenched political powers.
Activities held during the commemorations included candlelight vigils, speeches, poetry readings, and panel discussions. Attendees from diverse communities—including students, human rights advocates, and media professionals—gathered to honor Osman’s legacy and call for justice.
Fifteen years after his death, Sardasht Osman remains a symbol of truth and resistance, particularly for young Kurds who envision a more just and accountable future. His courage continues to resonate as a beacon for those who dare to speak against oppression—his legacy a reminder that while truth can be buried, it cannot be silenced.
It was a great honour to been part of this event