Sulaimani police say journalist and family died in ‘murder-suicide’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Forensic investigators have concluded that a Sulaimani journalist, his wife, and their baby son were killed in a “murder-suicide” on Wednesday night, police said Thursday. 

NRT journalist Amanj Baban was found dead in his car alongside his wife former Kurdsat anchor Lana Muhammed and their baby son Hano on the Sharazur Terminal road between Sulaimani and Halabja road late on Wednesday.

An initial statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) suggested unknown gunmen had targeted Baban and his family and were still at large. 

According to Sulaimani Provincial Police, the coroner’s report has concluded Baban likely shot his family before turning the gun on himself. 

“According to the Forensic Department’s medical report, the Investigation Team, and other evidence we have obtained, it turns out it was a [murder] suicide,” Aso Sheikh Nuri, head of Sulaimani Police, told a press conference on Thursday.

“The medical report has detailed that there was one gunshot wound to the head of Mr. Amanj and the report tells us it was fired within a range of two to three centimeters.”

“There was also two gunshots wounds to the head of Mrs. Lana and three to their child,” he added.

Nuri did not speculate on the cause of the tragedy and did not specify whether Baban had left a suicide note.

The family of the deceased has not issued a statement. 

In a tweet shortly after the killings, Qubad Talabani, the KRG deputy prime minister, said he was “saddened” by the news.

“The investigation is ongoing and I will supervise the dossier of this heinous crime until it reaches a result,” he said.

Despite the police statement, speculation remains rife on social media suggesting Baban was in fact targeted for his journalism. 

Journalists regularly face threats and intimidation for their work in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).