Remembering Iraqi Canadian feminist icon, Yanar Mohammed

On the morning of March 2nd, 2026, Iraqi Canadian feminist leader Yanar Mohammed was killed in a targeted attack in front of her home in Baghdad, Iraq. At the Equality Fund, we are still processing the shock and sadness of losing a dear friend and ally. Hearing the news, we held a Zoom call. Staff were invited to light a candle at home as we had a moment of silence. First, we shared memories.

“I met Yanar in 2003 during the US invasion of Iraq, and since then we built a long-term partnership,” said Natalia Caruso. “She was the most incredible activist I’ve ever known. If you knew Yanar, you would have felt the love immediately – her courage, her political vision, her sense of humour.”

In 2003, Yanar left her life in Canada, returning to her home country to help women and girls. She began with one makeshift shelter, which grew into a network of safe houses for women escaping honour killings, enforced sexual slavery, violence and discrimination. Over the years, this work helped over a thousand women.

“Yanar was really clear that the hostility against women’s human rights didn’t exist in a vacuum,” said Beatriz Gonzalez. “The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 had left a vacuum of power and from that, emerged other de facto powers and militias on the ground. The one thing they had in common, according to Yanar, was that you control communities and instill fear by controlling the women.”

Yanar was sharp in her analysis of the consequences for women in a heavily militarized society with empowered sectarian groups imposing their own agendas. She was a courageous advocate for women’s rights and gender equality as well as for peace and security. And she was very special to us as a global feminist fund with roots in Canada.

“Yanar brought conviction and clarity to the most consequential policy spaces. She pushed us to aim higher, beyond what seemed politically feasible toward what justice required. She was essential to advancing Canada’s feminist objectives, and her impact will endure," said Jess Tomlin.

Yanar was a powerful force for change and her work came at a steep cost. Her death was not an isolated act of violence. Globally, women human rights defenders face escalating threats. The work of activists like Yanar challenges the status quo, traditional gender roles and notions of culture. Targeting individuals is meant to intimidate feminist movements. In 2024, 56 killings were documented in conflict-affected countries, a figure that is likely underreported.

Amnesty International wrote in a statement this week that the assassination of Yanar fits “a chilling pattern of targeted killings and attempted killings of activists,” that they have been documenting in Iraq since 2019. “Human rights defenders, including women’s rights defenders in Iraq must be protected — not silenced and killed.”

Today, we light a candle for Yanar Mohammed.

Our staff Zoom call was an important moment for us to hold space for each other to share memories of Yanar’s work, her determination, her sweetness and her love of sushi and jazz.

If you have a comment or memory, share it with us. If you have a candle, please light it today to honour Yanar Mohammed, her loved ones, and the work of women human rights defenders around the world.