Erbil Court Sentences Man to Death for Killing Four Family Members

Erbil Court Sentences Man to Death for Killing Four Family Members

An Erbil criminal court on Tuesday handed down a death sentence and additional life terms to a doctor convicted of killing four members of his wife’s family in a case that drew widespread public outrage earlier this year.

Details of the March Family Murders

The crime occurred on March 13 in the Farmanbaran neighborhood, where Sirwan Mahmoud opened fire on his wife, her parents, and her sister following a family dispute. The attack left four people dead and shocked communities across the Kurdistan Region.

According to investigators, the couple had ongoing marital tensions, and Mahmoud’s wife had recently returned to her family’s home. Witnesses said she had sought a divorce shortly before the killings.

Court Issues Death Penalty and Life Sentences

Birzo Saeed, a legal consultant at the Erbil Appellate Court, said the verdict includes one death sentence and two life sentences.

“The defendant was given life imprisonment for killing his wife, another life sentence for killing her sister, and the death penalty for murdering his mother-in-law and father-in-law, as well as injuring a child,” Saeed explained.

Ongoing Concerns About Gun Violence

The case has reignited debates about widespread firearm possession in the Kurdistan Region, where authorities estimate that around 70 percent of residents own guns, many obtained through unregulated markets. Despite attempts to curb illegal weapons, gun-related incidents continue to pose a major security challenge.