Azngha Barbiani comments on the decision to close her: Illegal, undermining women's rights in S. Kurdistan

The director of Kazanji Company, Barbiani Tawer Adel, spoke during a press conference, reported by Roj News Agency, about the Asayish forces' decision to close the company and three other women's organizations in Sulaymaniyah.

Tawar said that the decision made by the Asayish forces on December 31, 2024, to close the company was taken without providing any official reasons or instructions from the competent court.

She pointed out that this measure contradicts Law 35 of 2007, which guarantees the right of journalists and media professionals in Southern Kurdistan to practice their work legally and safely.

Tawar Adel confirmed that the company has been operating legally since 2016, as it was officially licensed by the "Department of Commercial Companies in the Kurdistan Region," bearing the number 26,077 in the government records.

She also added that Kazanji Barbiani Company operates under contracts with JIN TV, a channel that highlights women's issues and human rights in South and Northern Kurdistan and North and East Syria.

Closing the company without an official explanation

In the press conference, Tawer Adel added that three days after the decision, no official clarification had been issued regarding the reasons for the company's closure, and they had not been informed by the Asayish forces about the actual reason behind the company's suspension of operations.

She confirmed that this action is "illegal," as the decision was not carried out through official court procedures, which constitutes a violation of journalists' rights in Southern Kurdistan.

She explained that this closure is not just an administrative procedure, but an attack on media freedom in Southern Kurdistan, which has seen a rise in the number of independent media outlets in recent years that seek to highlight human rights and social issues, especially women's issues.

Tawar Adel also confirmed that the Kazanji Barbiani Company has been operating within the framework of media laws in Southern Kurdistan since its establishment, adhering to the principles of journalistic ethics, and always striving to present the voice of Kurdish women and address their issues through the media programs it produces.

She added that this measure is not limited to closing the company only, but also represents an attack on women's right to express themselves, and targets civil society organizations that work for women's rights.

She pointed out that the decision comes at a sensitive time when the Kurdish community is facing significant challenges on both political and social levels, especially given the volatile security and political situation in the region. She saw that this decision not only represents an assault on media freedom but is also an attempt to undermine women's rights in southern Kurdistan.

Demand for the cancellation of the decision and the reopening of the company.

In conclusion, Tawar Adel called on the relevant authorities in Southern Kurdistan to retract the decision, considering that this type of decision does not align with the fundamental rights of journalists and harms freedom of expression and women's rights. Human rights organizations and public figures advocating for women's rights have also called for solidarity with the feminist front that is fighting to protect the rights of free media.

She expressed her concern that the violations faced by journalists and media professionals in Southern Kurdistan ultimately serve the interests of the authorities and lead to the weakening of press freedom and the obstruction of the truth from reaching the people. She said: "We are certain that these illegal decisions will not stop free media, nor will they hinder our efforts to create a free society where women are the driving force."

T/ Satt.

ANHA