Diplomatic missions, media organisations and journalists have expressed widespread condolences following the death of veteran Rudaw journalist Halkawt Aziz, who died after a road accident in Iraq.
Aziz, aged 36, served as the Baghdad bureau chief for Rudaw Media Network and was travelling from Baghdad to Basra when the incident occurred. He succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
The journalist is being remembered across the region as a committed reporter who played a key role in covering political and social developments in Iraq for Kurdish and Iraqi audiences.
Messages of sympathy were sent by international diplomats, including former US Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, who extended condolences to his colleagues and family, describing the loss as deeply tragic.
Spain’s embassy in Baghdad also offered condolences to the families of victims of the accident, while expressing hope for the recovery of those injured.
Other diplomatic and international figures, including representatives from Sri Lanka and European youth organisations, praised Aziz’s professionalism and dedication to journalism, highlighting his commitment to informing the public.
Within Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, journalists’ unions and media rights groups paid tribute to his work, describing his death as a major loss to the media community.
The Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate said his passing represents a significant blow to regional journalism, while the Metro Center for Journalists Rights and Advocacy noted that his reporting legacy would be remembered for its focus on truth and public service.
Several media outlets across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq also issued statements honouring his contribution to journalism and expressing solidarity with his family and colleagues.
