UN Mission: We will visit Suleiman Ahmed as soon as possible

Today, lawyers for journalist and editor of the Arabic section at Roj News Agency, Suleiman Ahmed, who was kidnapped by Kurdistan Democratic Party security on October 25 at the Fish Khabour crossing and whose fate remains unknown, met with the head of the United Nations Assistance Office for Iraq (UNAMI), Carolina Moreno, and discussed Suleiman’s case.

One of journalist Suleiman Ahmed Nariman Ahmed's lawyers spoke to Roj News Agency about the meeting with the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and stated that the meeting lasted for more than an hour and a fruitful meeting was held about the case.

Nariman Ahmed added; He said: “During the meeting, we talked about the obstacles faced by journalists and civil society activists in the Kurdistan region by the political authorities, as well as violations of freedom of thought and violations of human rights and freedom of the press.”

Nariman Ahmed noted, “During the meeting, we talked about the case of journalist Suleiman Ahmed, who was kidnapped by the security forces of the Kurdistan Democratic Party on October 25, 2023. We stressed that since then, despite all the efforts made by his family, lawyers, activists, journalists, organizations and unions at the local and international levels, but his fate is still unknown. In addition, a statement was issued by Dohuk security after pressure from public opinion. We also talked about the fact that Suleiman Ahmed is in prison and accused of spying for a political party.”

Regarding the legal status of journalist Suleiman Ahmed, his lawyers shared this information with the official of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq: “Suleiman Ahmed was not a member of any political party. He is an independent journalist and works with Roj News Agency, which is an official and well-known agency licensed in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region KGR. He officially came to the Kurdistan Region and has a residence permit. When he returned to Western Kurdistan, he returned officially and legally.”

In addition, Lawyer Nariman stated that they informed Unami that after several visits to the Dohuk security headquarters with the aim of meeting with their client, they were not allowed to meet him, and added: “After we received the court’s decision to meet Suleiman Ahmed, we should have been allowed to read his file, meet with him, and submit to our demands.” As his lawyers. But the Dohuk Asayiş did not allow us again.”

Suleiman Ahmed’s lawyer added: “We also told them that we discovered that he was in Dohuk security prison. Despite the judge's order, we were not allowed to meet Suleiman Ahmed, and according to our information, journalist Suleiman Ahmed was tortured several times in prison. According to Article 20, Paragraph 13 of the Iraqi Constitution, every prisoner has the right to have a lawyer. This is also a violation of human rights when Asayiş Dohuk prevents us from meeting with him. According to the Judicial Law, Article 40 stipulates that a prisoner has the right to seek the assistance of a lawyer 24 hours after his arrest, and he even has the right to seek the assistance of a lawyer before being interrogated.”

In the meeting between journalist Suleiman Ahmed’s lawyer, the official of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, Caroline Moreno, said about the case: “We are closely aware of the case of Suleiman Ahmed, and through the United Nations Disaster Management Committee, we will force the Kurdistan Regional Government to reveal Suleiman’s whereabouts.” Ahmed and allowed to meet him, as well as fulfilling all his legal rights. “We will give full importance to this issue and will visit Suleiman Ahmed as soon as possible.”

T/ Satt.

ANHA