Journalist: Kurdish Media needs to break free from partisan dependence

On the occasion of Kurdish Journalism Day on April 22, ANHA Agency spoke with Kurdish journalist Hawkar Izzat from Southern Kurdistan (Başûr) about his views on the state of Kurdish journalism, the challenges it faces, and its future needs amid the transformations affecting the Kurdish issue globally.

Crisis of Freedom and Partisan Dependence

Hawkar Izzat stressed that Kurdish journalism continues to suffer from clear restrictions in terms of administrative freedom and publishing freedom, noting that: “In recent years, the media has deviated from its true path, which is supposed to shed light on all of society’s cultural, social and other issues, and has instead become confined to political angles and the service of narrow partisan agendas.”

Izzat explained that some media institutions, backed by massive foreign funding, have come to play a negative role that does not reflect the reality of ordinary citizens, leading to a decline in the Kurdish viewer’s trust in them. He added: “When parties fail politically, militarily or electorally, they seek refuge behind their media outlets to justify their failures. This is evidence of the weakness of those forces, not their strength.”

Warning Against the Language of Treason Accusations and Incitement

Izzat strongly criticized the language of incitement and defamation adopted by some partisan media outlets, describing it as an expression of “incapacity.”

He pointed out that such rhetoric is not only aimed at deceiving society, but also works to tear apart social bonds and destroy family ties, stressing that: “The true language of media should be far more elevated than that.”

Toward a Unified National Media

In the same context, Hawkar called for correcting the course and shifting toward a “national media” that places the people’s public interest above party interests, noting a gap in the unity of Kurdish media discourse compared with other media experiences.

He cited Arab media as an example, saying it often unifies its discourse on issues such as Gaza, while Kurdish media, in his view, lacks such unity.

He also stressed the need for media solidarity among the parts of Kurdistan, saying in this regard: “When our people in Rojava suffer, the media of Başûr and the rest of the parts should be their voice, and vice versa.”

He added that national issues should not be ignored under the pretext of geographical borders between the parts, and that there is a historic responsibility to work toward achieving a solid and shared unified media discourse.

Journalist Hawkar Izzat concluded by emphasizing that the cause of the Kurdish people must remain the main compass for every free journalist and media worker, far from partisan polarization which, he said, “has exhausted society,” and that institutional references should be established for the future of Kurdish journalism.

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ANHA