[Sunshine Kuri]

Iraqi woman, 20, writhes in agony ‘after being set on fire by monster husband’ before dying of her injuries

Local media report that the woman's husband Mohammed Al Mayahli, a police officer, is alleged to have set his wife on fire.

According to Malak's family, Al-Mayahli attacked her with a phone charging cable before dousing her in petrol and setting her on fire.

They have also claimed that it followed a pattern of abusive behaviour, and that he forced her to cut all contact with her family for eight months prior to the incident.

He has now been taken into custody, local police confirmed, while an investigation continues.

An Iraqi lawyer, Hayan al-Khayat, has also published an unverified report which claims that Malak gave an inaccurate statement to investigating officers on April 8, as she was “threatened” to say the incident was an accident by her husband’s family.

However, Al-Mayahli has denied any involvement, and said that the victim inflicted the wounds on herself as she was suffering from mental health issues.

He said: "She burned herself with petrol and accused me and my family… there are sponsored accounts that are posting these lies just to slander my family."

The case has sparked outrage in Iraq after photos were posted to social media, and activists have called for new laws to tackle domestic violence in the country.

According to Iraq's penal code, husbands have the right to "discipline" their wives, and the law does not specifically forbid domestic violence, though the country's constitution bans "all forms of violence and abuse in the family".

Britain's Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hickey, took to social media to condemn the disgusting alleged attack and called for justice.

She wrote: "We feel a great deal of sadness about Malak al-Zubaidi's case, and we hope the investigation is completed quickly.

"We would like to remind you that domestic violence, whether it is physiological or physical abuse, is a prevailing problem around the world."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/114563...th-death-toll/