An attack on a vehicle carrying journalists from Çira TV and Çira FM in Sinjar (Şengal) on Monday has resulted in the death of one person and injuries to three others. The journalists were en route to Tilqeseb for interviews marking the tenth anniversary of the ISIS attack against the region on 3 August 2014. The ISIS assault marked the beginning of the genocide against the Yazidi people.
Murad Mîrza Ibrahim was transferred to Mosul for treatment after the attack and passed away after being in critical condition. The others received medical care in Sinjar.
The attack also damaged another vehicle belonging to a civilian. Iraqi Security Forces and Êzidxan Asayish have begun an investigation to determine whether the incident was caused by an airstrike or a planted bomb. Investigations so far point to a Turkish attack as the reason for the explosion.
Several international journalism NGOs have shown their solidarity and called for heightened awareness. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has stated that both Iraqi and Turkish authorities must immediately and thoroughly investigate the attack on the journalists’ car and determine the reason. Another journalism NGO, Women in Journalism, denounced the attack via X, underlining the journalists’ role in covering the ISIS attack commemoration that day.
A large number of media colleagues, representatives of the Autonomous Administration of Sinjar, and members of the family attended Murad Mîrza Ibrahim’s funeral, which took place in Sikenîye village in Sinjar. A camera was placed into Ibrahim’s grave by his colleagues as a sign of his dedication to his work, and to continued resistance.
