ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of mourners gathered in Kirkuk on Tuesday to bid a final farewell to Rudaw’s Baghdad Bureau Chief, Halkawt Aziz (1989 - 2026), who was laid to rest in his home province after he died in a tragic car crash the previous day.
Ako Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rudaw Media Network, lamented the loss of Aziz, describing him as a “brilliant journalist.”
“We have all lost a very competent professional and journalist, and the outpouring of heartfelt condolences and support from the people of Kurdistan since yesterday [Monday] stands as a testament to the love they had for Aziz,” he added.
The 36-year-old veteran Kurdish journalist passed away after succumbing to critical injuries sustained in a car accident while traveling from the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to the southern Basra province.
Khatab Ajami, Aziz’s cameraman in Baghdad who was in the same vehicle with him at the time of the accident, told Rudaw that a lorry crossed from the opposite lane, cutting off the car’s path and striking the vehicle on Aziz’s side.
“It all happened in a split second. I called out his name, Halkawt, Halkawt… but he did not respond,” Ajami said, adding, “I swiftly transferred him to the hospital, but fate was faster than I was.”
“I lost a brother and a lifelong friend that I will never be able to replace,” Ajami said, choking on his tears.
Attending the funeral procession was Shakhwan Abdullah, a senior figure from the Kurdistan Region’s ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and head of the party’s bloc in the federal parliament.
Pointing to the large turnout of mourners, Abdullah said, “All these people who came here [to the funeral in Kirkuk] came to honor him [Aziz] for delivering the truth to them. He strived to deliver honest news [from Baghdad] to the people.”
Similarly, senior Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official and former Kirkuk governor Rebwar Taha mourned Aziz as “an honest and kind-hearted journalist and correspondent who worked tirelessly and without any bias.”
“He never showed prejudice toward any party or group,” Taha added.
For his part, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dispatched a delegation to Kirkuk to offer condolences over Aziz’s passing and participate in his funeral procession.
A day prior, Zaidi’s Spokesperson, Sabah al-Numan, remarked that with Aziz’s death, “the media community [in Iraq] has lost a professional voice known for his dedication to his journalistic mission, his tireless efforts to convey the truth, and his service to society.”
“This painful loss leaves a profound impact on everyone who knew him and worked with him,” Numan said.
Tributes
The flood of condolences from senior Iraqi officials and prominent diplomats continued for a second consecutive day following the tragic passing of Rudaw’s Baghdad Bureau Chief.
National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji extended his “deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to Rudaw TV and all journalists” on the passing of Aziz, adding, “We ask God to grant him mercy and forgiveness, and his family and loved ones patience and solace.”
Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, Director of Media and Moral Guidance at Iraq’s Ministry of Defense, said, “We received with profound sorrow and sadness the news of Aziz’s passing,” praising the late journalist’s “professional efforts in conveying the truth and carrying out his media duties with full responsibility and dedication.”
ٍSimilarly, Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, Deputy Commander of Baghdad's Joint Operations Command, also extended his “condolences and sympathies to the Rudaw Media Network, the people of the Kurdistan Region, and the family of the deceased” on the tragic incident.
Major General Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, also extended his “deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to the family of the late Halkawt Aziz,” praying that God would “envelop the deceased in His vast mercy and forgiveness, grant his family, relatives, and loved ones patience and solace, and protect everyone from all harm.”
Ukrainian Ambassador to Iraq, Ivan Dovhanych, described Aziz’s passing as “a great loss for journalism in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” conveying his “heartfelt condolences” and “support for the media community.”
“During this difficult time, our hearts and thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Rudaw team,” Dovhanych said.
Meanwhile, the Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Erbil, Ahmed Hasan al-Shehhi, remarked, “We received with deep sorrow and sadness the news of Halkawt Aziz’s passing,” adding, “We extend our condolences to Rudaw, his family, and all of his relatives.”
Erman Topcu, the Turkish Consul General in Erbil, remarked, “I would like to express our profound sadness due to the passing of your colleague, Mr. Halkawt Aziz,” further conveying his “heartfelt condolence” to Aziz’s family and his co-workers.
In a similar vein, the Consul General of Russia in Erbil, Maxim Rubin, conveyed the Russian consulate’s “condolences and sympathy to Rudaw and to the family and relatives of Halkawt Aziz.”
He added, “On this day filled with sorrow, we all remember him and bow our heads in respect to his memory,” describing Aziz as “a symbol of patriotism and a model of a loyal and impartial observer.”
“We ask Almighty God to grant his family and friends patience and solace, and to have mercy on the deceased and admit him to His vast paradise,” Rubin concluded.
