China Investigates Drowning Death of Kurdish PhD Student at Ocean University
Chinese Consulate in Erbil expresses condolences to family of Mohammed Saadalddin Hadi and pledges humanitarian assistance
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into the drowning death of Kurdish PhD student Mohammed Saadalddin Hadi, who was studying at Ocean University of China, the Chinese Consulate General in Erbil said in a statement.
The consulate said it learned of Hadi’s death late on Sept. 8, 2026, and immediately contacted relevant authorities in China to obtain further information about the incident.
According to information available to the consulate, local public security authorities and Ocean University of China have established a dedicated team to investigate the circumstances of Hadi’s death in accordance with Chinese law and relevant procedures.
The consulate said Chinese authorities are also maintaining close communication with the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in China, adding that further information will be shared once the inquiry is concluded.
The Chinese Consulate General in Erbil expressed deep sadness over Hadi’s death and extended its “heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathies” to his family.
The consulate also called on media organizations to respect the privacy of the deceased and his family during the investigation and refrain from disseminating unverified speculation about the circumstances surrounding his death.
It further said it was prepared to provide the family with all necessary humanitarian assistance, including support for their travel to China to deal with matters related to the incident.
The death comes as educational ties between the Kurdistan Region and China continue to expand, with Kurdish students increasingly traveling to China for higher education through scholarship programs.
In August 2026, the Chinese Consulate General in Erbil said 19 students from the Kurdistan Region had received Chinese government scholarships to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in China.
The two sides have also expanded academic cooperation through Chinese-language studies at Salahaddin University-Erbil and the establishment of a formal Kurdish-language program at Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Beyond education, Erbil and Beijing have been strengthening cooperation in investment, trade, culture and technical training, with the Erbil Governorate officials saying more than 1,500 employees had benefited from training courses in China.