Kurdish transgender woman shot by brother had been hiding from family

The Kurdish transgender woman Doski Azad shot dead by her brother last month, had been living in hiding from her family after repeated death threats, friends have said.

According to friends, Azad had had to move home regularly after several death threats by male members of her family.

Three weeks ago, her body was found dumped in a ditch outside of the city of Duhok, in the Iraqi autonomous Kurdistan region. Her hands had been tied and she had been shot twice. Police have issued an arrest warrant for her brother, who is believed to have travelled from his home in Germany to carry out the killing.

Another Kurdish transgender woman was murdered last year by family members, Rudaw reported.

Kurdish activist Amed Sherwan said most hate crimes were not reported.

The US, French and German consulates in Erbil condemned the murder on Twitter, as did the UN assistance mission for Iraq and the Canadian mission to Iraq.

The Kurdistan regional government did not respond to a Guardian request for comment.