Islamic State militants have kidnapped and executed a prominent female human rights lawyer in Iraq, according to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR).

Samira Saleh Al-Naimi was kidnapped by ISIS jihadists in the city of Mosul last week after she criticised the actions of the group as “barbaric”.

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It is alleged the women was publicly executed in a Mosul town square, where jihadists have controlled the city since June.

Horrific and sad. Iraq: Lawyer and human rights defender Samira Saleh Al-Naimi executed by ISIS in Mosul http://t.co/A6FHACknro

— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) September 24, 2014

“The GCHR condemns in the strongest terms the execution of Samira Saleh Al-Naimi and believes it is solely motivated by her peaceful and legitimate human rights work, in particular defending the civil and human rights of her fellow citizens in Mosul,” GCHR said in a statement.

The Global Fund for Women paid tribute to Samira Saleh Al-Naimi on Twitter, calling her ‘fearless’ and lamenting her death, saying “the world has lost a light”.

The world has lost a light. Fearless #humanrights defender Samira Saleh Al-Naimi kidnapped, executed by ISIS in #Iraq http://t.co/URF5a8Qx9k

— Global Fund forWomen (@GlobalFundWomen) September 24, 2014