Activist Shwan Sabir Attacked in Erbil Over Anti-Corruption Work

Erbil – July 17, 2025

Kurdish legal expert and anti-corruption activist Shwan Sabir Mustafa Gerdi was physically assaulted today in the streets of Erbil by a group of individuals believed to be linked to political networks inside the Kurdistan Region.

The attack reportedly involved three vehicles that surrounded Shwan near a central area in the city. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the assailants severely beat him and issued a chilling warning:

“If you say one more word, you will be killed.”

Shwan Sabir is known for his courageous stance against corruption, impunity, and human rights violations in both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal Iraqi system. A lawyer by profession, he has spent years exposing high-profile corruption cases and the unlawful conditions inside KDP, PUK, and Iraqi detention centers.

His activism particularly through social media has earned him a wide audience and support among young Kurds seeking reform. But it has also drawn the ire of powerful circles within the ruling elite.

This brazen attack, carried out in broad daylight, sends a clear message: in the KRG’s capital, speaking the truth can come with a price.

Human rights organizations and civil society activists have called for urgent accountability and protection for those who expose corruption and demand justice. No arrests have yet been made.

In a region where lawyers and journalists face increasing repression, the assault on Shwan Sabir is a dark reminder of what happens when justice is silenced.

His Video recorded can be accessed through this link https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Hhz751mMs/