Sardasht Osman

Work Sardasht Othman and Bashdar Othman in the Erbil plain - Spring 2008. Osman's work was best known for being critical of the Kurdistan Regional Government; the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), one of the two Kurdish ruling parties; and the Barzani family in charge of the KDP. Their prominent officials included Kurdistan Region President and KDP leader Massoud Barzani, KDP deputy leader and former regional PM Nechirvan Barzani, and head of the security agency Parastin, Masrur Barzani. Nechirvan is Massoud Barzani's nephew, while Masrur is his son. Osman wrote articles for independent news websites, only a few of which have been translated into English. He started writing as a journalist in 2004. in his short time of journalist, he became a well known person among liberals and critical thinkers.

Kidnapping and assassination Osman received death threats through e-mail and telephone almost immediately after writing an article about Massoud Barzani. The threats were aimed at Osman and his family. In its statement, the Kurdistan Region Presidency claimed that "We reiterate our gratitude to those in the free press whose role has advanced the cause of freedom in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. We remain resolute in our efforts to ensure that all citizens of the Kurdistan Region are free to enjoy the human rights afforded to democratic citizens the world over." Veteran journalists: Open letter to the Kurdistan Regional Government from journalists who have covered Iraqi Kurdistan for many years. At Committee to Protect Journalists:

Aftermath Osman's death came as a shock to most in Iraqi Kurdistan. Many independent media organisations condemned the killing and called for an independent investigation.