My 15-year-old relative was killed for refusing to marry her cousin

A 15-year-old girl in Baghdad, Iraq, was killed by her family members after refusing to marry her cousin, whom she knew was involved in drugs and alcohol dealing. Kawthar had previously been forced into marriage at age 13, escaped her abusive husband, and was officially divorced in court, but her family ignored her refusal of the arranged marriage and killed her in May 2025. Her family subsequently celebrated her death publicly, while police allegedly demanded bribes rather than investigating the crime.