Father of Five girls Shot in Sulaimani, Killer Linked to PUK

Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region — In the village of Sherkuzhi, Sulaimani district, a father of five daughters, Salah Hamasaleh, was fatally shot in an altercation involving a PUK Dija Anti-Terrorism forces member. The argument reportedly erupted over dust stirred up by a truck near Salah’s garden, intensifying after the gunman threatened to kill Salah if he returned. According to Salah’s brother, Hawkar Jabar, the killer followed through, aiming directly at Salah’s heart.

The suspect, known for connections to high-ranking security personnel and notorious for discharging firearms at night, has a history of intimidation. Salah, 48, a truck driver, had been working with family on the day of his death when the assailant, reportedly named SK, fired five shots, one of which was fatal.

The killer, who has sought asylum in the UK and is implicated in drug dealings there, has since left the UK, evading prosecution for likely lengthy imprisonment. Salah’s family, mourning at the Maskhalan mosque, demand justice and an end to impunity. With incidents like these increasingly common, locals question why regional authorities have failed to hold armed personnel accountable.