Iraq
Ziad Jarjis, a police officer from Kikruk province, who was killed on December 19, 2025. Photo: submitted
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior police officer was shot dead on Friday outside his home in Kirkuk after gunmen opened fire on him from a vehicle, Iraq’s interior ministry announced, saying the killing was carried out by two fellow officers over personal disputes.
The interior ministry said its investigation revealed that “two police officers of Kirkuk province” who were “colleagues of the deceased” killed Colonel Ziad Jarjis over “personal differences, and then escaped.”
Colonel Ziad, a Christian, was previously the director of the Arafah Police Station. He was married and had three children.
“The two suspects had previously been convicted of a joint forgery case with the colonel, were released on the latest amnesty,” the ministry said.
The ministry added that among the suspects, “one of them was found to have committed suicide,” and “a second person who confessed to committing murder was arrested.” A suspect was also arrested who was present at “the hour” when the killing took place.
A Kirkuk police source, speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity, said that three individuals inside an Opel vehicle opened fire on Ziad, with four bullets hitting him - one in the neck and three in the chest.
“With great sadness and sorrow, we received the news of the martyrdom of Colonel Zaid Adel Subaih Jarjis, who is from the Christian component and was assassinated in a criminal incident in front of his home,” Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha said in a statement, offering condolences to the family.
“We call upon the Kirkuk Police Command to reveal the details of this crime and arrest the accused, so that he may be handed over to a fair court and receive the legal punishment for his action,” he added.
Christian lawmakers James Hassado and Ramy Noori Syawish from the Kurdistan Region’s parliament also expressed condolences to the victim’s family, emphasizing that “it is necessary for the local authorities to guarantee the security and safety of Christians in Kirkuk.”
“We firmly expect swift and effective legal procedures…so that this crime does not pass without appropriate punishment,” they said.
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