A secret plot against NRT and its staff has been executedNRT reporter Aram Bakhtyar has been detained in Kifri for over a week contrary to the Law of Journalism and to the regulations of the Kurdistan Regional Government. In addition, an arrest warrant has been issued for NRTDirector Awat Ali because of the preparation and release of a report covering the case of a man charged with the theft of milk and diapers. NRT has now revealed a plot against the network which aims to silence the channel.
On May 24, 2017, a judge from the Kalar Investigative Court once again violated the Law of Journalism and extended the term of Bakhtyar’s detention. In addition, he called for the arrest of the director of NRT.
We called for the release of Aram Bakhtyar on bail three times in accordance with the legal system of the Kurdistan Region on May 28, 29 and 30, 2017 but the court in Kalar refused the requests
According to information NRT has obtained through its investigation, the detention of the NRT reporter for over a week and the decision to detain the director of NRT are related to the involvement of some of the Kurdistan Region’s officials in the case who want to silence NRT. In addition, the Kurdistan Region’s authorities have chosen to keep quiet about the plan against NRT and its staff.
NRT and its staff have always abided by the laws of the Kurdistan Region and are ready to appear in court when called. However the issue of concern and which requires a response is their plan to arrest the director of NRT and NRT reporter Aram Bakhtyar. This could result in sending them in handcuffs to Erbil to execute some other plan against them with the aim to silence NRT.
We call upon related sides, domestic and international organizations for human rights and freedom of expression as well as international representatives and consuls in the Kurdistan Region to respond to the plan executed against NRT.
and its staff. We ask them to work toward the case to pursue a legal path so that the Kurdistan Region’s laws are carried out and the NRT reporter will be released.
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