Amnesty International calls Hawler to immediately stop their attacks on press’ freedom
Amnesty International's Iraq concerned campaigns officersaid that the Hawler authorities' boast of being a beacon of press freedom is a ridiculous claim given their suppression of press freedom and the harassment and prosecution of journalists.
Amnesty International said in a report that the Hawler authorities must end their assault on the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, including arbitrary arrests, beatings and grossly unfair trials of journalists.
The organization pointed out that harassment, intimidation, and attacks against journalists have had a chilling effect on the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press in southern Kurdistan, as many journalists were forced to flee, hide, or abandon the practice of journalism altogether, while many of their counterparts are still languishing in prisons.
Bisan Faqih Iraq Campaigner at Amnesty International said: “The authorities of the Iraqi Kurdistan region boast that the region is a beacon of press freedom, but this is nothing but a ridiculous claim given their suppression of press freedom and the harassment, intimidation and prosecution of journalists, especially those who wrote about corruption allegations and criticized the authorities' handling of social issues. The authorities’ assault on press freedoms has created a culture of fear designed to stifle peaceful dissent and perpetuate impunity.”
The organization indicated that it spoke to eight journalists, the families of detained journalists and their lawyers, and viewed court documents related to four cases against detained journalists in southern Kurdistan, and they all spoke about the obstacles to freedom of the press in southern Kurdistan.
The organization called on the Hewler not to practice harassment and intimidation against journalists simply for performing their journalistic work. It also called on the Hewler authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those detained simply for carrying out their journalistic work.
It is noteworthy that the Kurdistan Democratic Party authorities continue to conceal the fate of journalist Suleiman Ahmed, who has been kidnapped for 191 days, despite all the demands and calls for his release, the latest of which is the Committee to Protect Journalists sending an urgent request to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances.
ANHA
