In a devastating blow to Kurdish activism and the struggle for autonomy, Shoaib Zarei, a prominent political activist and Peshmerga fighter associated with the Kurdistan Toilers Party of Iran, was assassinated near the party's headquarters in Sulaymaniyah province. The tragic incident was reported by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

Zarei, aged 34 and hailing from the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, fell victim to the attack in the Zirgwez area of Sulaymaniyah province. Having dedicated over a decade of his life to the cause, Zarei served as a steadfast Peshmerga fighter, originating from the Takhta village in Sanandaj city.

The assassination comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, particularly following Iran's aggressive military actions in November 2022. Iran unleashed a barrage of ballistic missiles and suicide drones targeting compounds belonging to Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region.

In response to such provocations, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has consistently called upon neighboring countries to uphold the territorial sovereignty of the Region. Furthermore, they have urged armed Kurdish factions not to utilize Kurdistan's territory for settling disputes or endangering the safety and security of neighboring nations.

The assassination of Shoaib Zarei underscores the perilous environment in which Kurdish activists and fighters operate, as they continue to advocate for their rights and strive for a more secure and autonomous future. The loss of Zarei will undoubtedly be felt deeply within the Kurdish community, both in Iran and across the wider Kurdistan region.