The Law Does Not Protect Us Lack of Supremacy of Law Menaces Democracy and Freedom of Press







In 2017, the Metro Center for advocating rights of journalists, in reliance on the articles and paragraphs of Kurdistan Region press law number (35) of the year 2007, has registered a number of offences, violations and breaches against law.

They are as follows: (419) violations have been recorded against (338) journalists and press corporations.
Martyred: 4
Murdered in terroristic acts: 2
Wounded during normal coverage: 14
Wounded during news coverage of the combat zone: 10
Impeded: 206
Breaking Journalistic Equipment: 12
Confiscating Journalistic Equipment: 25
Detained without Warrant Arrest (Court Decision): 33
Arrested and Warrant Arrest upon Court Decision: 10
Attacked and Being Beaten: 58
Threatened (Menace): 18
Been Shot: 2
Filling Legal Pledge: 2  
Cyber Attack (Electronic Attack): 3
Press Corporation Offices been Assaulted, Robbed and Burnt: 8
Broadcast Stoppage: 7
Closing Press Corporation Offices: 5


Kirkuk 
On Monday morning, October 30, a number of unknown gunmen in Khorse quarter in Daquq District, raided the house of the journalist (Arkan Shareef) who was the KDP’s KTV cameraman and killed him.
According to the narration of Arkan Shareef’s wife, that night a number of unknown masked gunmen entered their house’s yard and knocked at the entrance door hardly. As soon as Arkan opens the door, they handcuff the 49 year old Arkan Shareef, and take him to another room of his house.
According to the witnesses statements to the Metro Center "Arkan was killed by a military bayonet and there were 40 scars of stabs on his corpse”. 
 Halo Jabbari, one of the close people to the victim’s family and the KTV’s journalist in Kirkuk stated to Metro that "The gunmen introduced themselves as Popular Mobilization Units, known as Hashd Al-Shabi". 
Killing the journalist  Arkan Shareef is one among a series of crimes of military authority and militiamen that are committed against civilians in the areas of Kirkuk province, where the government and international community condone it.  
Arkan Shareef, has been working as a cameraman for the KTV satellite channel, which is the mouthpiece of Kurdistan Democratic Party, he was married and had two daughters and a son. 
 Karwan Akrayee, the director of KTV satellite channel, stated to Metro Center "Following the arrival of the Iraqi Army and Popular Mobilization  Unit to Kirkuk and its suburbs, our media workers have been banned from work and media coverage”.
On January 5, the corpse of the jurist and journalist Abdulqadir Alqaysi’s was found between Kirkuk – Baghdad road, and the Metro Center called for an immediate independent investigation of this incident. 
The jurist and journalist Abdulqadir Alqaysi, was a member of Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, after being missing for few days, his corpse was found, which was the first incident of abduction and killing of journalists in Iraq and Kurdistan Region in 2017. 
 In addition to working in journalism, Alqaysi was a human rights activist, and he was the defender of the Iraqi politician (Tareq Al-Hashimi). Since he has been threatened in Baghdad, he left Baghdad and resided in Erbil. In the late days of 2016, he headed to Baghdad and was abducted in Al-Uzaym area. So far,  no serious investigation has been conducted to this crime and his case.

ISIS ( Daesh)
On February 25, the prominent Kurdish female journalist at Rudaw Channel (Shifa Gardi) was martyred while covering Mosul operations, and her cameraman ( Yunis Mustafa) also was wounded severely. Breaking the news of Shifa Gardi’s death was a deep wound and an irreparable damage that can hardly be compensated.
 While she was taking a statement from Sayed Ali Hayali, the commander of Badr Forces which is an affiliate force to the Popular Mobilization Units, a roadside bomb (Hidden Mine) blew off to this commander and Shifa Gardi. Shifa was martyred along with Sayed Ali Hayali and four other fighters. A Rudaw cameraman and 7 fighters of Popular Mobilization Units were also wounded.
 Shifa Gardi was on the right side of Mosul, preparing a report to the Rudaw TV on Khafsa Ditch, "which is one of the ditches where ISIS dumped hundreds of corpses in”.
Sayed Ali Hayali, the commander of Badr Forces, has had his leg stuck to a wire of the mine and the mine blew off, as a result Shifa Gardi was martyred and Sayed Ali along with two of his brothers and two other fighters killed, Yunis Mustafa the cameraman of Rudaw and 7 fighters of Popular Mobilization Units also were wounded.
Ranja Jamal, a Rudaw reporter who was with Shifa Gardi’s team when covering Mosul war on Saturday 25-02-2017, stated that Shifa was informed about Khafsa Ditch, and she searched for this place a lot, but could not find it. So, they returned, and on their way from Baghdad- Mosul road, they saw a force of Popular Mobilization Units, they told the team that they know where the place was, and promise them to cooperate with them.
As Ranja stated, who was only 5 minutes away from them, the Rudaw team and Popular Mobilization Units force went to the location together, upon their arrival to the location on 03:45 p.m. Sayed Ali’s leg was stuck to a mine wire and it blew off.
On June 20, both journalists (Stephan Flinoph and Bakhtyar Hadad) from French Le Figaro Newspaper went to Mosul covering the Iraqi forces advancement toward Mosul.  Both were martyred, and one of their colleagues named Samuel Fori was also wounded in the same incident.
Ahmed Anwar Jaff, a friend of Bakhtyar Hadad, stated to Metro that "Unfortunately, none of the parties cooperate, guide or lead the journalists and they are never informed about the risks of the areas where potentially planted mines would exist or about any other risk".  He also added, "the works are haphazardly done and no facilitation is made or offered to the journalists". Jaff further explained, "there are warfare media cells, but each group works for its own part". 
Covering the combat zone for Kurdish journalists was a new experience; the events would tell us that the Kurdish journalists need further trainings in this field.
According to the statistics of the JFO (Journalistic Freedom Observatory) that works jointly in collaboration with Metro Center, 20 journalists have been killed in Iraq merely throughout May 3, 2016 to May 3, 2017. 
Through its meetings and statements, Metro Center has been calling the Media Agencies constantly to provide means of safety for the journalist prior to sending them to the combat zones, and before all the conditions, training courses must be offered to the war correspondents.
 
Covering Court News Is Not a Crime 
Metro Center to Defend Journalists, has always requested all individuals and parties in its statements and stances that in the event of a dispute or problem between them and journalists they have to appeal to the court. But some lawsuits were noteworthy and criticizable, such as arresting NRT’s journalist in Kifri for a fortnight and arresting NRT’s director Awat Ali for 24 hours.
In May 22, according to a court decree ordered for arresting NRT channel journalist in Kifri, for publishing a report on final verdict of the court and the trial about a citizen arrested on theft charges, including "Stealing baby diaper and powder milk”. 
The report of Aram Bakhtyar, the NRT reporter in Kifri District, was aired after the final verdict issued by the court of Kifri, thus; this journalist’s report had no effect on the investigation procedure conduct of the case and court’s procedure; therefore, he should not have been arrested. 
News of the final courts verdict on the cases are not confidential and are issued publicly. The coverage of such news does not have any effect on the investigation procedures and is not a sort of disclosing any information. Such coverage is not a crime to issue warrants of arrest for journalists.  

Free Press under the Military Authority in Kirkuk
After Kirkuk has been controlled by the Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Units, and when press channel offices have been burnt and banned from working; the journalists’ functioning has been restricted.   
The military authority in Kirkuk and its areas has committed huge violations against civilians, as it does not comply with the Kurdistan Regional Codes pertinent to the free press and freedom of speech.   
Through its partners, Metro Center has informed the international organizations, advocating free press, about the conducts Popular Mobilization Units and other forces have committed against freedom in general and free press and freedom of speech in particular.
In a press conference when the military authority entered Kirkuk, a journalist was denied to ask a question in Kurdish language, and an official figure was denied to answer questions in Kurdish language, either.
The United Nations has shown its concerns about the reports addressing that in Kurdistanean regions outside the KRG recently occupied by the Iraqi military and Popular Mobilization Units; riots, destruction, robbery, as well as burning houses, markets, and political offices of the political parties have happened. 
According to the complaints filed to UN and mentioned in the report, around 150 houses in Khurmatoo sub-district have been exploded during 16th and 17th of October by military groups. 
Those forces have impeded media from covering riots, situation of civilians stuck by violence, war, and leaving their homeland, and to publish them for public and international opinions.
We know that at the time of massive riots, wars and killings; deviations of the journalism ethics get bigger, that’s why Metro Center tries to offer his best in media course-correction.  
However, neither us, nor the civil society organizations will keep silent when military forces’ decisions push aside the law in force, especially in Kirkuk city that worked in the previous years in compliance with Kurdistan and Iraq press codes, when dealing with Kurdistan and Iraqi media and journalists.
Throughout those crises, the life of many journalists became at risk, Kurdsat press team have been shot, their car and cameras were taken by the military forces, in addition to the situation where both Kurdistan 24 and Rudaw were banned from working in Kirkuk.  
Having some critical remarks on any channel would not supposed to put us in the opposing rampart against freedom, and the military authority in Kirkuk should not be let banning and stopping Kurdistan 24 and Rudaw channels.  
Aram Jamal, KNN channel correspondent in Kirkuk, told Metro that "talking about working professionally, the situation of media and journalism in Kurdistan is better and vice versa”.  
Muheddin Omer, a journalist in Galy Kurdistan, told Metro that "after 16th of October, we cannot cover the news normally. People humiliate us”.
The journalist Kamaran from Radio Nawa and BBC channel explained for Metro that "Right now, there are some regulations to restrict journalism, all the channels cannot work alike. I personally didn’t go to Kirkuk for any journalistic duty since Rudaw and Kurdistan 24 have been banned”.
Dana Askar, a journalist from the New Kurdistan Newspaper, stated for Metro that "No violation has been committed against me, but I have seen it committed against other journalists. In the time being, the situation of journalism in Kirkuk is very bad. A great deal of journalists have left Kirkuk city”. 
Rokan Jaff, the director of NRT office in Kirkuk, has told Metro that "we have been hugely restricted, now our office is closed and we are not allowed to cover the news in Kirkuk city. My warrant arrest has been issued by Jawdat Assaf, the director of media at Popular Mobilization Units in the southern part of Kirkuk, that’s why I left Kirkuk and fled”.
The journalist Rzgar Hajy Hama from Kirkuk channel has told Metro "At the first day of the Kirkuk events, a detachment form Popular Mobilization Units has raided on the office of our channel, and Kirkuk Emergency Police has protected our office. In the time being, we cannot cover the events like before”. 
However, what is prohibited for the Kurdish channels is allowed for the Arabic channels.  
Saa’d Mala Ali, a journalist from Kirkuk Chanel, who is also the office director of Here Baghdad channel, said to Metro "Free press in the meantime in Kirkuk is greater for the Arabic channels than the Kurdish ones, especially for the channels accused for provoking violence. In the past, for the coverage, the journalists were supposed to gain an approval, but now it is not needed and you can cover the events directly”. 
Moreover, Abdulla Samad, a journalist in Iraq Al-Hurra channel, told Metro "Free press in Kirkuk is better than before. In the past, we were not able to go near that Governorate, but now no one would tell us what are you doing or not doing there, and the security forces are supportive to us”.
The regulations the military authority of the city is implementing have made some Kurdish journalists leave the city.
Shorsh Khalid, the editor in chief of the site Kirkuk Now, told Metro "Two of our correspondents left Kirkuk city towards Erbil and Sulaimanyah”.
Also, Alaa Hoshyar, who is a freelance journalist, has left the city since the day of the events.

Oh! Mr. Abbady; Journalism is not a Crime!
In an open message for the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abbady, the director of Metro Center for the Rights of Journalists asked Abbady to immediately terminate the order of coverage stop issued for Rudaw and Kurdistan 24 channels’ teams in Iraq. 
Rahman Ghareeb, the director of Metro Center, addressed the crime of murdering the journalist and cameraman of Kurdistan TV, i.e. Arkan Shareef, who has been martyred in a brutal way in his house in Daquq district by Popular Mobilization Units. 
And added; Arkan Shareef’s name has been listed as the 302nd among the murdered journalists since 2003 in Iraq so far.  
He also has explained that part of those journalists have been murdered by ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terroristic groups, but the utmost proportion of them were murdered by the corruption mafias to keep their cases  secret and not to be disclosed to public opinion. 
In another part of his message, Rahman Ghareeb wrote; under the recent tensions between the federal authority and the Kurdistan region, the lion share of the tensions has affected the press channels as victims of the tensions. The Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Media Centers were startled when saw the orders and regulations issued against media by security and military centers, sent to the Press and Relations Association to stop the coverage and close the offices of Kurdistan K24 and Rudaw channels. This is the case, while constitutionally the Press and Relations Association is a semi-independent association connected to the judicial authority, which is expected to work professionally, and to make decisions according to its rules of procedures, not under the instructions of any other authority. 
 He didn’t hide that they are astonished and they disagree that the discriminative attitude is applied only to the Kurdish channels, and all the channels are not treated equally. He has written that; if the decision would be applied to all the channels that provoke hatred and infuse violence, it would have been acceptable to some extent. 
He has presented that some Iraqi channels justify using violence against Kurds, and even some of them encourage violence and using more power against Kurds, using all kinds of insults and offensive expressions against Kurds, whether through their reports, programs, shows or by their guests. The situation is so worsened that some of those channels wrongly accuse the Kurdish nation as a whole for treason, while on the other hand there is no reaction similar to those decisions that have been made against the Kurdish channels.    

Impediments and Discrimination
Discrimination is apparently obvious against the journalists and media staffs of KNN, Payam, NRT and Rozh News channels. Discrimination and impediments against correspondents and channel staffs by KRG institutions led Metro center to receive tens of complaints, talking about the impediments by those institutions while covering the events from the combat zones, covering activities of the Request Movement, and even conferences and activities of the KRG. 
Correspondents of those channels reported that before their eyes they have seen the other channels were permitted, while depriving formers from covering those activities. 
According to the 4th point from the 4th part of the Press Code, number 35 in 2007 "the journalist has the right to attend the public conferences and activities”. The code has clearly given the right to the journalist to cover the public activities without discrimination. 

Raiding on Channels and Robbing Them
  
Violence inside Parliament
On 29th of October inside the Kurdistan Parliament, the KNN, Rozh News, and Payam channel teams have been attacked, but the most apparent attack was the one committed against NRT team during the live-coverage.
Those attacks reached the peak of degrading the law, disclosing the essence of the forces that paved the way for those attacks. 
A group of stick-batters and knife-holders trespassed the Kurdish Parliament before the eyes of the security forces, attacking some of the channels’ correspondents as well. 
The security forces have known that the group of people that attacked the parliament member Rabun Maa’ruf earlier were around parliament applauding and threatening some journalists. 
In those attacks, the journalist Rebwar Kakayee was injured, his camera was broken, and KNN correspondent has been attacked and hurt, as well.
The video captions show that the raiders were breaking the mikes and cameras of NRT and KNN, applauding as if they were in the enemy’s rampart and have recoded success.   
Robbing NRT
The same night, on 29th of October, the NRT channel office has been attacked in Erbil city and most of their equipment has been crashed, leaving behind a very big damage upon their studios. 
Awat Ali, the director of the channel, has released an announcement about that, saying, "the attack on NRT office in Erbil and pillage have caused an amount of damage estimated by more than one million dollars, upon the office and its equipment, where part of them were crashed and the utmost part of them were robbed before the eyes of Erbil security forces”. 
He emphasized that "despite of the attacks and raids on the NRT offices in Erbil and Duhok, NRT staff will continue”.  
In the demonstrations, each force will apply its own set of rules.
Since the beginning of the protests, the security forces amongst the roads and allies of Sulaimanyah city, districts and sub-districts dealt with the local and international journalists like an enemy. Many journalists have been arrested for an hour or two, and released later. Until now, it is not clear how many journalists would be still in the security forces’ imprisonments, and according to which legal article they have been arrested. 
Tens of journalists have left their workplaces for different durations because of the tear gas and being hit by rubber bullets. The security forces, at best, were pushing them away from the protest area by threatening them.  
Metro Center asks; if justifications of the authority to suppress the protests were manifestations of violence by their opposites, which is not yet verified who started that, how has it started, what would be their justifications for violence against journalists? 
When local and international journalists were trying to cover the protests, like an event that has got news value all over the world; they were denied to cover it, their cameras were being broken or their journalistic equipment were being confiscated.
Amongst this scene, including violence against protesters and journalists, at 7:00 pm on 19th of December, 2017, a group of Sulaimanayh security forces estimated by 100 one hundred militants have raided on Nalia Media Corporation in Sulaimanyah without any judicial order, which includes all three main satellite channels (NRT, NRT2, NRT Arabic)  as well as Nalia FM Radio. After humiliating some of their staff and journalists, crashing some of the corporation’s equipment, and taking some other broadcasting technical equipment; they stopped all from broadcasting, and arrested Awat Ali the director of the corporation for 4 hours at Sulaimanyah Security Office. 
After stopping the broadcasting, it has become clear that it was implemented according to a ministry order, number (5002) issued from the regional Ministry of Culture on 19th, December, 2017 about stopping the broadcasting of NRT channels temporarily for one week, while an order by ministers and ministries does not have the power of legal articles of Press Code.  
These events caused discontent for the United Nations’ Envoy in Iraq, US Embassy in Baghdad, Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ, and Human Rights Watch.
Metro Center for advocating the right of journalists condemns the way those forces have dealt with the journalists, and calls for stopping such violence against media and journalists, and to release the arrested ones immediately. 
Metro has taken 67 cases of violation against journalists. Each one of those events includes many sharp violations against the Press Code.
With its partners from the international and local organizations, Metro will continue to pressure KRG to respect the free press and sovereignty of law, not the rule of sticks, kicks, threats, and beating.  

The Report of Free Press Situation in Kurdistan Region 2017

January
1.In the morning on 1st January 2017, while the Kurdsat News team was directly covering people’s happiness in Salim Street-Sulaimanyah, who were welcoming the new year, some citizens attacked the team by fireworks and childish explosive firecrackers. Hemin Qadir, Kurdsat News correspondent, told Metro that "in the assault, my right hand was burnt and one of our cars caught fire, that was quickly extinguished by the driver”. 
2.On 2nd of January, during the President of France’s visit to Kurdistan Region, NRT correspondent Alaa Hoshyar has been impeded in Erbil International Airport, although Alaa was informed by the protocol department of the Elysées Palace to attend this ceremony for coverage. Also, another team of the same channel has been impeded, which consisted of Herish Qadir and Zana Sherzad.   
3.On the 2nd of January, 2017, on the two-way street of Chamchamal district of Sulaimanyah city, while Rudaw channel team, i.e. Saman Basharaty and Balen Wahid, were covering the news of Chamchamal people’s protest to increase their daily public electricity hours; they were attacked by some people. Balen Wahid, the channel’s cameraman, told Metro that "we have been impeded by several people belonging to the 1st protection brigade of Sulaimanyah, then we have been beaten and our camera was taken”.
4.On 2nd of January, on the two-way street of Chamchamal district of Sulaimanyah city, NRT correspondent Rizgar Jabbar has been impeded from covering the news of Chamchamal people’s protest.
5.On 2nd of January, on the two-way street of Chamchamal district of Sulaimanyah city, Payan channel correspondent Jala Jabary has been impeded from covering the news of Chamchamal people’s protest. Jalal said that "They took my camera from me and humiliated me”.
6.On 2nd of January, on the two-way street of Chamchamal district of Sulaimanyah city, KNN team, i.e. Hemin Ahmed and Ary Luqman, have been attacked, their camera was taken from them, and took it back after an hour.
7.On Thursday 5th of January, 2017, the corpse of the jurist and journalist Abdulqadir Al-Qaisy was found, dead on Kirkuk-Baghdad road. The jurist and journalist Abdulqadir Al-Qaisy was a member of Kurdistan Syndicate of Journalists. His corpse has been found after several days of being missing. Despite his journalistic work, Al-Qaisy was a human rights activist, and he was the defender of the Iraqi politician Tariq Al-Hashimy. As he was threatened in Baghdad city, he left Baghdad and resided in Erbil. At the ending days of 2016 he headed to Baghdad from Erbil, but he was abducted in Udhem area. 
8.On Wednesday, 11th of January, 2017, while covering the protest of a proportion of people in Khabat district in Erbil governorate asking for their rights from a foreign company, Dwarozh site’s correspondent, Saeed Mohammed, was attacked by a group of Zeravany forces. Saeed has told Metro that "I was attacked by a Zeravany force, and arrested for half an hour”. 
9.On Wednesday, 11th of January, 2017, while covering the protest of a proportion of people in Khabat district in Erbil governorate asking for their rights from a foreign company, NRT team, i.e. Rebwar Kakayee and Karzan Karim, have been attacked by a Zeravany force. The channel’s correspondent Rebwar kakayee told Metro that "One of the members of the force told us that we have to go with them. I said; but we have the permission to take photos. The Zeravany member said; and we have the order to arrest you, as well. I asked him to show me the order, he replied and told me; we are the order”. He emphasized; "They attacked us and arrested us for half an hour”. 
10. On Saturday 14th of January, 2017, a delegation of athletic journalists consisted of 20 athletic journalists at Bany Maqan check point were impeded from entering Sulaimanyah city. Hemin Omer, the supervisor of Erbil athletic journalists, told Metro "At Bany Maqan check point were impeded from entering Sulaimanyah city, justifying their action by saying that they have not been informed about our trip, and that they have to contact the upper authorities, and then you will be allowed in”.
11. On Sunday 15th of January, 2017, while conducting a normal coverage inside the Barda Rash district, KNN team, i.e. Diva Harky and Rayyan Zebaryee, have been attacked by the district’s security forces. Diva Harky the channel correspondent told Metro "while we were conducting a normal coverage inside Barda Rash district, we have been attacked by security forces, beaten, and our camera has been broken”. 
12. On 15th of January, Kurdistan News correspondent Gailan Botanyee told Metro that while they were covering Mosul operations, a bomb has exploded near the correspondent and was injured. 
13. On Sunday 15th of January, 2017, Karwan Baa’adre, the correspeondent of Avroka Newspaper, when he was leaving Duhok city, he has been arrested and tortured by a guard of an official of PDK party. Karwan Baa’adre told Metro that he had posted a post on the social media facebook in which he was criticizing the security committee and Asaysh. Then the official in charge PDK’s sub-branch told one of PDK’s active members, i.e. a cadre, to tell Karwan to go visit them. Karwan says, "I’m having a working day, when I finish, I will be going there. But it was an early morning that I was still sleeping when three guards of PDK’s sub-branch took me forcefully from home to Asaysh”. He added, "After taking me to the sub-branch building, they asked me; you criticize us. I said; criticism is something normal, later they took me to another room, and have beaten me, punched me and hit me with Kalashnikov’s butt-stock, and I could escape from their hands by yelling”. Karwan has sent his picture after being arrested to Metro, in which scars of being beaten were apparent on him, one of his eyes has been severely hit, and he emphasized, "I have one my feet twisted, aching a lot and I cannot walk on it”.  
14. On Monday 16th of January, 2017, while covering the operations of re-controlling Mosul, a bomb exploded near Al-Hurra channel’s correspondent Abdul-Hamid Zebary and the cameraman Yasir Salmy, where Abdul-Hamid Zebary was severely wounded and was transferred to Bartalla Hospital.
15. On 19th of January, at Nergzly Camp in Nawaran axis of Duhok city, KNN channel team have been impeded, i.e. Bahar Hussein and Hady Muhammad.
16. On 24th of January, while preparing an educational report in Khabat district in Erbil governorate, several people introduced themselves as relatives of NRT correspondent Rebwar Kakayee and threatened him to death. 
17. On 28th of January in Sharya Camp of Duhok governorate, the camp security forces arrested KNN channel team, i.e. Bahar Hussein and Muhammad Sidqy, for two hours, and filled pledges for them not to work in this camp any more. 

February
18. On 5th of February, in Setaqan quarter of Erbil city, while conducting a live-coverage of a protest by a group of Bangladeshi workers whose money was stolen, NRT channel team Sherzad Abdulla and Hassan Maulud have been impeded and arrested for half an hour at Khanaqa police station.
19. On 15th of February, in front of Halabja Emergency Hospital, the hospital guards impeded Jihad Hawramy from the coverage, who is Rozh News channel’s correspondent; meanwhile channel teams of NRT, KNN, and Payam have been impeded to conduct the coverage, as well. 
20. On 17th of February, at the football match between Zakho and Kirkuk clubs in Zakho international stadium, both journalists Adil Sindy and Faisal Muhammad have been attacked, assaulted and humiliated by the supporters.  
21. On 25th of February, when preparing a program in Mosul city, a bomb exploded near Rudaw channel team, and the presenter Shifa Gardy was martyred, while her cameraman was severely wounded, as well.  
March
22. On 1st of March, while some of the organizations were having a meeting near Wafayee roundabout in Erbil city, Swara Muhammad the correspondent of Rozh News channel has been impeded and his journalistic equipment had been confiscated. 
23. On 3rd of March, while covering the military clash between Rozhawa Peshmarga Forces and Yabasha Forces in Shangal, both journalists Ezzat Esmat and Hardy Khality, correspondents of Chra TV channel, were severely injured. 
24.On 3rd of March, while covering the military clash between Rozhawa Peshmarga Forces and Yabasha Forces in Shangal; Badinan-Sat channel team, Elham Hassan and Khalaf Murad, have been impeded and their journalistic equipment had been taken from them.  
25. On 24th of March, the journalist Ahmad Zebaryee, VOA correspondent, told Metro; while a group of people were gathering in front of Divan Hotel in Erbil city to show their discontent of the Kurd-Kurd fighting, I have been arrested by a security force for about 9 hours. 
26.On 4th of March, the journalist Swara Mahmood, the Rozh TV channel correspondent, told Metro; while a group of people were gathering in front of Divan Hotel in Erbil city to show their discontent of the Kurd-Kurd fighting, I have been arrested by a security force for about 5 days. Although the judge has issued my release order, the Asayeesh take the judge’s release order in the consideration.
27. On 5th of March, while covering the combat zone news in Garmyan areas, the journalist Haidar Kfry, the correspondent of Galy Kurdstan channel, has been injured.
28. On 6th of March, during a football match in Sulaimanyah city, the journalist Nashmil Muhammad, the Kurdistan TV channel correspondent, has been beaten and consequently injured, by Civil Activities Police, passed out for 4 hours, and then she was sent to Jordon for medical treatment on KRG’s expense. 
29. On 8th of March, during anniversary ceremony of the Woman Day at Saa’d Abdulla Hall in Erbil city, the NRT correspondent Renas Ali was impeded to cover the event.   
30. On 8th of March, during anniversary ceremony of the Woman Day at Saa’d Abdulla Hall in Erbil city, Payam channel team, Waly Salim, has been impeded.   
31. On 10th of March, the journalist Hemin Karim told Metro that "at 8:45 pm, a white color car has shot my house heavily, and fled, in Ibrahim Ahmad quarter in Sulaimanyah city”.
32. On 12th of March, Kurdistan 24 channel correspondent, Chakdar Jamal, was injured while covering the operation of controlling Mosul city. 
33. On 14th of March, while covering the military clash between Rozhawa Peshmarga Forces and Yabasha Forces in Khana Soor of Shangal district, both journalists Zhidan Asman and Daila Akhin the Chra TV channel correspondents were injured severely.
34. On 16th of March, while covering a protest in Halabja city, Kurdistan 24 channel team has been impeded by the security forces and the live-feed cable of the channel has been cut off. 
35.On 3rd of March, while covering the military clash between Rozhawa Peshmarga Forces and Yabasha Forces in Khana Soor of Shangal district, the journalist Nozhian Arhan, chief editor of Suzhin Magazine, has been severely injured and has passed away at hospital on 23rd of March.
36. On 25th of March, without a prior notice, the Standard Agency’s main office has been closed by Erbil Asayeesh.
37.On 31st of March, during United Nations Envoy’s visit to the refugees in Hassan Sham Camp in Erbil governorate, Payam channel team, Aras Aziz and Younis Abdulla, have been impeded. 

April
38. On 1st of April, during a football match of Kurdistan premier league in Kalar city, the journalist Hady Ahmad was assaulted by the security forces, his camera was crashed and he was humiliated.  
39.On 4th of April, while covering dismissing the religious preachers from Judy Mosque in Erbil city, Payam channel team, Waly Salim, Mutlab Khoshnawyee, were arrested and their equipment had been confiscated. 
40. On 4th of April, the journalist Taif Goran, the NRT channel correspondent, has been arrested by a security force in Bashik of Mosul governorate. 
41. On 7th of April, while covering finding the corpse of a youth affiliated with terroristic ISIS, the KNN channel correspondent Pavel Abdul-Rahman has been impeded by Asayeesh in Darbandikhan of Sulaimayn govenorate, and he has been threatened to death by phone, later on.
42.On 8th of April, while travelling to Erbil city, Rozh News channel team have been impeded to enter Erbil city at Kasnazan checkpoint, and they have been told that they had order not to let them in.  
43.On 10th of April, the journalist Nawzad Polis Hanna, the chief editor of Suraya Newspaper, told Metro that during the meeting between PUK and PDK with the Christian parties; a high ranked official of an Assyrian party assaulted him and threatened him against the posts Nawzad was posting on the social network facebook.
44. On 16th of April, the KNN channel correspondent Difaa’ Harky was impeded from covering the protest of a proportion of discontent drivers at Ibrahim Khalil border-point, accusing him for not having the permission.  
45. On 23rd of April, Duhok Guard Police impeded Kurdsat News channel team, Nzhyar Muhammad Salim and Niwar Abdul-Karim, from coverage. 
46. On 28th of April, during an artistic event in Khazar Camp of Mosul governorate, NRT channel correspondent Renas Ali has been impeded to cover the event.   

May
47. On 3rd of May, in Erbil city, the previous member of Press Bureau of PDK, Ibrahim Abbas, has been arrested for three days.
48. On 8th of May, the eminent journalist Soran Saqzyee has committed suicide by bullet in Erbil city.
49. On 11th of May, after broadcasting a journalistic report, the journalist Aram Bakhtyar, NRT channel’s correspondent in Kifry district of Garmyan Directorate, was threatened and told not to do any journalistic work in this area, any more.
50. On 11th of May, after posting a subject on the social network Facebook, the journalist Shwan Sabir has been assaulted and threatened.
51. On 14th of May, during a live-feed of the university students’ protest in front of Salahaddin University in Erbil city, NRT correspondent Shiraz Abdulla has been impeded from coverage and arrested later on.
52. On 17th of May, while covering a protest in Qaradagh district of Sulaimanyah governorate, KNN channel team, Abubakir Hussein and Halo Jabaryee, have been impeded from coverage.       
53. On 19th of May, while covering the funeral ceremony for the death of General Organizer of Goran Movement at Zargata Hill in Sulaimanyah city; several journalists have been assaulted and humiliated by some of the ceremony attendants; the journalists were Rudaw channel’s correspondent Shadya Rasul, Kurdistan 24 correspondent Dalya Kamal, the journalist Jalal Rahman Abdulla, Rudaw channel’s correspondent Hawkar Yasin, Al-Iraqeeah channel’s correspondent Amar Hikmat, and VOA correspondent Zhyar Muhammad.
54. On 20th of May, during the opening of the International Commercial Hawler Fair in Erbil city, Payam satellite channel’s team, Aras Aziz and Mutlab have been impeded from covarage.
55. On 22nd of May, after broadcasting a journalistic report in Kfry city of Garmyan Directorate, the court has issued a warrant arrest for NRT channel correspondent Aram Nakhtyar, and he has been arrested for two weeks. 
56. On 22nd of May, while preparing a journalistic report, the NRT team Herish Qadir and Zana Sherzad have been impeded from coverage and threatened, by the dean of the College of Arts in Salahaddin University in Erbil.
57. On 24th of May, during a seminar about the Quest of Independence at Saa’d Abdulla in Erbil city, NRT channel team have been impeded from the covering the seminar.
58. On 24th of May, while covering the funeral ceremony for the death of General Organizer of Goran Movement at Zargata Hill in Sulaimanyah city; Kurdistan 24 channel correspondent Barham Jamal has been impeded from the coverage.


June
59. On 4th of June, the Garmyan court has issued the warrant arrest for NRT general director Awat Ali, who has been arrested for 24 hours and then released on bail.
60. On 7th of June, the local broadcasting of Falcon Eyes channel was stopped by an order from the Ministry of Culture and Youth, for broadcasting a commercial advertisement. 
61. On 9th of June, NRT correspondent told Metro that "While covering the dormitory student protest in Koya city of Erbil governorate, I have been impeded by the security forces and omitted the captions I have recorded”.
62. On 16th of June, while conducting a live-feed for the explosion in front of Bahasht Mosque in Sulaimanyah city, Rudaw channel correspondent Jamal Ahmad has been assaulted by the crowd there, and his journalistic equipment had been taken from him.
63. On 20th of June, both journalists (Stephan Flinoph and Bakhtyar Abdulla Hadad) from French Le Figaro Newspaper went to Mosul covering the Iraqi forces advancement toward Mosul.  Both were martyred, and one of their colleagues named Samuel Fori was also wounded in the same incident.
64. On 20th of June, in Erbil city, upon a complaint by the ministry of Peshmarga; the journalist Masood Abdul-Khaliq the director of Standard Agency has been arrested for 6 hours, and has been released on bail, later on.
65. On 21st of June, during Said-Sadiq district’s protests, KNN channel team, Abubaker Hussein and Halo Jabbary, have been impeded.
66. On 21st of June, Akre district’s directorate of Religious Endowments impeded KNN channel correspondent Difaa’ Harkyee from covering the religious ceremony of the 27th of Ramadan fasting night.
67. On 22nd of June, due to his writings, an armed force raided on the journalist Sartip Jawhar’s house in Erbil, and arrest one of his brothers.
68. On 27th of June, in Jundyan touristic town of Erbil governorate, NRT channel correspondent Abdo Rostayee has been impeded by the security forces from live-coverage.

July
69. On 2nd of July, during a protest in front of Duhok court, Dilshad Himo the correspondent of NRT channel has been impeded from coverage, who has been arrested by the security forces later, and his journalistic equipment had been taken from him.
70. On 3rd of July, during the live-feed of the program Think Twice on NRT channel, jamming signals have been directed towards the channel’s broadcast, due to which the program couldn’t continue.
71. On 3rd of July, during the graduation festival of a proportion of Salahaddin University students in Erbil city, NRT channel is impeded from covering the ceremony. 
72. On 4th of July, due to the fire on a fuel station in Sulaimanyah city, the journalist Zryan Mhammad Ali, Dwarozh Site correspondent, has been wounded.
73. On 4th of July, while KNN channel’s correspondent Difaa’ Harkyee was conducting a normal coverage in Kalakchi sub-district of Erbil governorate, a security force stopped the live-feed and impeded him.
74. On 8th of July, while covering a protest by a proportion of Bna Slawa district’s residents in Erbil governorate, someone introduced himself as an active member, i.e. a cadre, of a political party and assaulted KNN channel team, Shakhawan Mhammad and Majeed Abdul-Manaf, preventing them from coverage. 
75. On 10th of July, several people have attempted to abduct a previous member of PDK Press Bureau, i.e. Ibrahim Abbas, who has been beaten and severely injured due to that.
76. On 10th of July, in Saa’d Abdulla Hall in Erbil city, during the 40th day ceremony after the death of the politician Aziz Mhammad, both KNN and NRT channels were impeded from covering the event.
77. On 13th of July, during the gathering of a proportion of shopkeepers inside Zakho district’s market in Duhok governorate, NRT channel team have been impeded from covering the gathering.
78. On 15th of July, during a protest by a proportion of Akre district’s people in Duhok governorate, the crowd and the security forces assaulted Difaa’ Harkyee the correspondent of KNN channel and impeded from coverage. 
79. On 31st of July, while covering a protest in Zakho city of Duhok governorate, KNN channel correspondent Hassan Hussein has been impeded by security forces and his journalistic equipment had been taken from him. 
80. On 31st of July, while covering the gathering of a proportion of people in Erbil city, KNN channel correspondent Salih Harkyee has been attacked by security forces and his journalistic equipment had been taken from him. 

August
81. On 1st of August, during the meeting between the secretary-general of Kurdistan Islamic Union, i.e. KIU, and Prime Minister of KRG at the KIU’s political bureau in Erbil city; KNN channel correspondent Ayaz Mzoory has been impeded from coverage. 
82. On 1st of August, Rudaw channel correspondent Shadya Rasul has been humiliated by an anonymous person on social network Facebook, as she is pregnant and has got field missions as the same time.
83. On 5th of August, during a fire on a weaponry reservoir in Erbil city, NRT channel team Rebwar Kakayee and Najmaddin Gardyee have been impeded from covering the event. 
84. On 7th of August, during a protest by a proportion of Higher Education Competence Building students, asking for their educational grants in front of the Ministry of Higher Education in Erbil city; KNN channel has been impeded from coverage.
85. On 22nd of August, NRT channel has been impeded by security forces to open its studio, which has been prepared for conducting some programs on the referendum process in Erbil city.
86. On 27th of August, upon an order by the Erbil Directorate of Printing and Publishing; the local broadcasting of NRT channel has been stopped.
87. On 29th of August, during the live-coverage of Your Opinion Program on Rega channel, someone contacted the program and threatened the presenter Hoshang Karim to death.
88. On 31st of August, several people introduced themselves as martyrs’ households, and attacked Duhok office of NRT channel before the eyes of the security forces, and caused financial damages to the office.

September
89. On 1st of September, jamming signals and cyber-attack from a hidden source have been directed towards Badinan Sat channel broadcast in Duhok city.
90. 0n 5th of September, in Duhok city, several anonymous people attacked the journalist Ahmad Shangalyee, the director of press in PUK Center in Duhok and caused damage to his car.
91. On 12th of September, during the president of Kurdistan region’s visit to Duhok city and his meetings with diverse sectors and groups of people; NRT, Payam, Rozh News, and KNN channels have been impeded from the coverage.   
92. On 13th of September, during the referendum campaign ceremony in Akre district of Duhok governorate; NRT channel correspondent, Hogdar Zebaryee, has been impeded from the coverage.
93. On 15th of September, in the Kurdistan parliament in Erbil city, several people introduced themselves as civil society activists and attack the journalist Laith Binyamin, NRT Arabic channel correspondent, and deprive him from the coverage.  
94. On 20th of September, upon an order issued by the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the local broadcast of NRT channel has been stopped.  
95. On 20th of September, during a protest by some activists and people at salim Street in Sulaimanyah city, the security forces arrested the correspondent Mhammad Wali from Rozh News channel, and took his journalistc equipment. Also, the correspondent of SNN site, i.e. Soran Saeed, has been arrested for 9 hours.
96. On 20th of September, the NRT channel team have been impeded to cover the Yes Carnival at Sulaimanyah Stadium, and denied to cover even near the stadium.  
97. On 20th of September, during President of Kurdistan Region’s visit to Sulaimanyah, in front of the PDK leadership council; NRT channel correspondent Bzhar Dabbagh has been impeded by the council’s guards from the coverage while he was on the live-feed.
98. On 21st of September, despite of being invited for a press conference at the PDK leadership council in Sulaimanyah city; KNN, Payam and NRT channels have been impeded to enter the council for the coverage. 
99. On 23rd of September, during a meeting between PDK and PUK Asayeesh forces near the High Electoral Commission in Kirkuk city; NRT channel correspondent, Aso Ahmad, has been impeded from the coverage while he was on the live-feed.   
100.On 24th of September, in the press conference of President of Kurdistan Region allocated for the referendum process in Pirmam sub-district of Erbil Governorate; NRT, KNN, Rozh News, and Payam channels have been impeded from the coverage.  
101.On 25th of September, on the Kurdistan referendum day for independence; at Barzany Namr School in Erbil city; NRT channel correspondent Aram Hussein has been impeded to cover the process.  
102.On 25th of September, in the Kurdistan referendum day for independence, at Ahmady Khanyee and Qazy Muhammad Schools in Sulaimanyah city; NRT channel has been impeded from covering the process.
103.On 25th of September, in the Kurdistan referendum day for independence, NRT channel team, Herish Qadir and Muhammad Idrees, have been impeded from the coverage.
104.On 25th of September, in the Kurdistan referendum day for independence, although Shirin School in Sulaimanyah was allocated for media coverage; the following journalists and correspondents have been impeded from the coverage; Zhala Mhammad from NRT, Pshtiwan Jamal from Westga News Site, Peshkawt Abdulla from Radio Nawa, the journalist Jamal Sargatyee, Bryar Namiq from KNN, Shukur Muhammad from Huna Baghdad channel, Ali Omer from Dwarozh Site, and Hawkar Yasin from Rudaw. 

October
105.On 16th of October, in Erbil city, when people from Kirkuk arrived Erbil because of the Kirkuk city’s complexities; the security forces impeded NRT channel team, Rebwar Kakayee and Karzan Karim, from coverage, they have beaten them and taken their journalistic equipment, as well.    
106.Om 16th of October, two armed people raided on Al-Iraqiya channel office in Sulaimanyah, and threatened its correspondent Ammar Hikmat, ordering them to evacuate the office.  
107.On 16th of October, the Popular Mobilization Units, known as Hashd Al-Shabi, impeded Kurdsat channel teams and took control over their equipment for 7 hours.  
108.On 17th of October, the military authority in Kirkuk issued an order to ban both Kurdistan 24 and Rudaw channels from coverage and to be dismissed from Kirkuk.  
109.On 18th of October, during Duz-Khurmatoo people’s protest in front of the PUK Political Bureau in Sulaimanyah, several militants have attacked the editor in chief of the Paragraph Site, Surkew Mhammad, and have beaten him. 
110.On 18th of October, during Duz-Khurmatoo people’s protest in front of the PUK Political Bureau in Sulaimanyah, several militants have attacked the journalist Soran Hussein from Rozh News Agency, and have beaten him.  
111.On 19th of October, during a public gathering in Azady Park in Sulaimanyah, the security forces have attacked Soran Hussein the correspondent of Rozh News Agency, and impeded him.
112.On 20th of October, in Prde district of Kirkuk Governorate, while covering the military clash between Peshmarga forces and the Iraqi forces; a high ranked official of Popular Mobilization Units has dismissed NRT channel correspondent Rokan Jaff, accusing him for making seditions and troubles. 
113.On 20th of October, while covering the military clash between Peshmarga forces and the Iraqi forces at a checkpoint in Taqtaq sub-district, NRT channel correspondent, Khalid Mhammad, has been impeded from coverage.
114.On 25th of October, because of covering the events in Kirkuk city, Jaudat Assaf who was the press director of Kirkuk axis of the Popular Mobilization Units has raised a complaint against Rokan Jaff, the NRT office director in Kirkuk, for which Rokan Jaff has left Kirkuk city and fled.   
115.On 25th of October, upon an order issued by the military authority in Kirkuk; Kirkuk City’s coverage has been banned from NRT channel. 
116.On 29th of October, the NRT office in Erbil city has been attacked by a group of people. Despite of the existence of security forces, protesters raided on the channel, crashing a great deal of the equipment, robbing it, attempting to fire the channel, and causing an immense financial damage to the channel estimated by one million dollars. 
117.On 29th of October, protesters raided on NRT channel office in Duhok city, causing financial damages to the office. 
118.On 29th of October, inside the Kurdistan Parliament in Erbil city, during the parliament assembly discussing the division the Kurdistan President’s authorities; some protesters who present themselves as civil society activists attacked some journalists and crashed their equipment. The correspondents and journalists were Qarachugh Anwar from Rozh News Agency, Salih Harkyee from KNN, Rebwar Kakayee from NRT, and Waly Salim from Payam satellite channel.   
119.On 29th of October, some protesters attacked Ashty Radio in Zakho district of Duhok governorate and burned the Radio station.  
120.On 29th of October, in Daquq district southern Kirkuk governorate, several militants raided on the journalist Arkan Sharif’s house, the Kurdistan TV cameraman, and martyred him with bayonet before the eyes of his family members. 
 
November
121.On 1st of November, during a protest by discontent teachers in front of the western Directorate of Education in Sulaimanyah city; several channels have been attacked, which were KNN, Rudaw, War TV, Kurdistan 24, and NRT. 
122.On 1st of November, because of his writings, from which a great deal was allocated for the referendum process; the journalist Jihad Ali Hamid was threatened to death, who was a resident of Erbil city.    
123.On 9th of November, Hemin Mamand announced that "I have been threatened to death through a phone number” and added, "the same phone message has been sent to 5 friends of me, as well”. 
124.On 25th of November, while aiming at preparing a report about Khurmatoo city’s situation; NRT channel correspondent Aso Ahmad was arrested for one hour and half in a checkpoint of Popular Mobilization Units around Kirkuk.
125.On 27th of November, some anonymous militants on motorcycles shoot the house of the journalist Haidar Ahmad, the Gali Kurdistan channel correspondent in Kfry city.  
126.On 27th of November, during the Higher Council for Women’s ceremony for the campaign of confronting violence against women, at Saa’d Abdulla Hall in Erbil city; Hazhar Anwar, Rozh News channel correspondent, was impeded from covering the event, claiming the excuse is that his name is not included in the list of the invitees.    
127.On 28th of November, upon presenting the program "Good Morning Kirkuk” at Kirkuk TV channel, wearing Kurdish dress; the presenter Nergz Qadir was threatened by an Iraqi Counter-Terrorism officer.
 
December
 
128.On 6th of December, during the on goings of Culture and Violence Conference, at Saa’d Abdulla hall in Erbil city, claiming the excuse is that their names are included in the list of the invitees; Rozh News channel team have been impeded from covering the event.  
129.On 13th of December, aiming at preparing a report about the IDPs of Khurmatoo city in Zinana sub-district; Garmyan security forces have impeded NRT correspondent Aram Bakhtyar.  
130.On Sunday, 17th of December, NRT channel cameraman, Grivan Farman, was covering protests in Sulaimanyah city, or Salim Street, near the PDK’s 4th Branch, and flying a fly-cam to broadcast pictures of the protest. Grivan has been detained by several guards of the 4th Branch building. Grivan said that "from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, I have been arrested. At the beginning, I have been arrested at the 4th Branch, and then transferred to the PDK Leadership Council. They wrote me a letter and were telling me ‘You are affiliated with the Iranian Intelligence’. From 1:00 pm, I have been referred to Rizgaryee Asayeesh, then to the General Asayeesh, and my camera is confiscated at PDK’s 4th Branch”.   
131.On Sunday, 17th of December, Al-Iraqiya channel correspondent Ammar Hikmat and the cameraman Ary Amin were impeded to cover Sulaimayah protests. 
132.On Monday, 18th of December, director of Goran Media Network Correspondents, Bryar Namiq told Metro that "During the coverage of Saidsadiq district’s protests, KNN correspondent Abubaker Hussein has been beaten by the security forces, and arrested for an hour and half”.  
133.On 18th of December, the correspondent of Radio Nawa and Nawa Website, Peshkawt Abdulla, told Metro that "in front of Kaneskan roundabout in Sulaimanyah city, after the meeting between Goran Movement and Kurdistan Islamic Union has finished, the security forces attacked me and took my journalistic equipment, taking my journalistic working tag. The same day, while covering the protests in Mawlawy Street, I have been attacked by some protesters”. 
134.On Monday, 18th of December, NRT channel correspondent Zhala Mhammad told Metro that "While the PUK office at Piramagroon sub-district was burning, the cameraman Rebaz Ibrahim and I were attacked by some cadres of this party, we were insulted, humiliated, and they approached to beat us, but we were protected by the protesters”. 
135.On Monday, 18th of December, Harem Burhan, the cameraman of Rudaw Media Network, told Metro that "at the entrance of Mawlawy Street, our camera has been taken by the security forces, and later we got it back”. 
136.On Monday, 18th of December, Dana Omer, the Rozh News correspondent, told Metro that "yesterday, I was covering the confrontation between the Civic Activities’ Police and protesters at Mawlawy Street in Sulaimanyah. More than 20 times I have been sprayed with tear-gas, and I have been shot by rubber bullet once, which has hit my stomach and injured due to that”, 
137.On Monday, 18th of December, Dana Sofy Ibrahim, Khandan Site correspondent in Raparin area, has been raided on by a security force, attacked by gun, and his head was injured in many sides.   
138.On Monday, 18th of December, in Rawanduz district, both journalistic teams of Rega and KNN satellite channels, while covering protests in this district; were impeded from covering a protest by some youth, there.
139.On 18th of December, in Ranya Emergency Hospital, the security forces impeded Speda channel correspondent Omed Rasul, and Kurdsat channel correspondent Twana Omer, from covering the wounded people in the protests, and they were both attacked later. 
140.On 18th of December, during Ranya city’s protests, some protesters have attacked Ranya Local channel and burnt it.  
141.On 18th of December, while covering Saidsadiq district protests, Hawkar Mustafa, Rozh News Agency correspondent, has been injured by stones.  
142.On 19th of December, a military force has raided on headquarter of Naliya Media Corporation, and stopped the broadcast of NRT, NRT Arabic, and NRT2 channels in Sulaimanyah.    
143.On 19th of December, Roza Mhammad, Rozh News Agency correspondent, has been injured by tear-gas.
144.On 19th of December, in Qaladze district of Raparin Directorate, the security forces impeded Ali Qadir, Rozh News Agency correspondent, and detained for a while.
145.On 19th of December, due to the stoppage of NRT channel broadcast, each one of Rega, Bangawaz, and Ashtar channels has stopped, as well.
146.On 19th of December, at Mawlawy Street in Sulaimanyah city, while covering the protest of a proportion of Sulaimanyah people, the security forces impeded Anadol Agency photographers Muhammad Ali and Younus Kleech from coverage, and they were detained until late at night. 
147.On 19th of December, during Ranya city’s protests, the protesters have raided on both radio stations Mashkhalan Radio and Voice of Yakgrtu, and burnt them both.
148.On 19th of December, Payam satellite channel correspondent, Jalal Mhammad, told Metro "With my cameraman, Nzar Ahmad, we were covering Sulaimanyah city protests at downtown Saraa area. We have been twice attacked by a security force, and our camera and journalistic equipment have been taken”. 
149.On 19th of December, Suhaib Salih, the Emirate Al-Ghad channel correspondent, told Metro that "at Salim Street around 12:00 pm at noon, during live-feed, a security force came and took our camera from us”.  
150.On 19th of December, during Koya city’s protests of Erbil governorate, security forces impeded KNN channel team from covering the protests.
151.On 19th of December, by Saidsadiq Asayeesh, warrant arrest was issued for Rozh News Agency correspondent, Hawkar Mustafa, claiming the excuse was that he covered the protests and provoked people to violence. 
152.On 19th of December, during protests in Chamchamal district of Garmyan Directorate, security forces have impeded KNN channel team from covering the protests. 
153.On 19th of December, Karzan Tariq, NRT correspondent, told Metro that "in front of Sulaimanyah Airport, with my cameraman, I was receiving a person’s comment, someone with civilian dresses, yet holding gun, has threatened us to leave the place”.
154.On 19th of December, NRT correspondent Bzhar Dabbagh told Metro that "I was with the channel’s cameraman, Avar Hamid, in Sulaimanyah city center, when a security force attacked us and broke the camera”.
155.On 19th of December, NRT channel correspondent, Wrya Hama Karim in Halabja governorate, told Metro that "PUK center guards in Halabja broke our camera and attacked me as well”.
156.On 19th of December, Rozh News Site correspondent Ali Qadir told Metro that "in Qaladze district, the protesters wanted to get into the front of the district administrator, and I tried to cover the protest, when a security force attacked me and impeded me”.
157.On 19th of December, KNN channel correspondent Sabir Abdulla told Metro that "I went with the cameraman Awat Omer to cover Qaladze protests, when we were attacked by a security force, which broke our camera and took it”.
158.On 19th of December, KNN channel correspondent Ary Luqman told Metro "in Chamchamal district, I have been attacked by a security force and didn’t let me cover the protest”.
159.On 19th of December, KNN channel correspondent in Koya district, Ary Sabir, told Metro "during Koya protest, I have been attacked by security forces and didn’t let me cover the protest”.
160.On 19th of December, Sharazoor district security forces impeded Payam, KNN and Speda channels from covering the protests in the district.
161.On 19th of December, in front of the Kurdistan Parliament in Sulaimanyah city, the journalist Sarkawt Shamsaddin has been arrested for two days by security forces. 
162.On 19th of December, after claiming the excuse was covering the protests and provoking people into violence, eastern Erbil-Koya Asayeesh has issued a warrant arrest for KNN correspondent Ary Sabir. 
163.On 19th of December, during Ranya city’s protests, two youths raided with knives on Voive of Yakgrtu Radio correspondent, i.e. Mukhlis Ahmad Aulla, meanwhile he has been attacked by security forces, as well.  
164.On 20th of December, in Ranya city, several times Rozh News Agency correspondent Shamal Hassan has been wounded by tear-gas of the security forces.
165.On 20th of December, Sulaimanyah city security forces have arrested the athletic journalist Danar Arsalan.
166.On 20th of December, while covering protests in Halabja city center, Rozh News Agency correspondent Jihad Hawramyee has been injured.
167.On 20th of December, during Halabja city center protests, during the live-feed, security forces impeded a KNN channel team from covering the protests. 
168.On 20th of December, after claiming the excuse was covering the protests and provoking people into violence, eastern Erbil-Koya Asayeesh has filed a lawsuit against Khalid Mhammad, NRT channel correspondent in Koya city.  
169.On 20th of December, in Sulaimanyah city market, the security forces impeded NRT channel correspondent Herish Qadir. He is originally from Sulaimanyah, yet he resides in Erbil. He was in Sulaimanyah to visit his relatives, however; he has been arrested.  
170.On 20th of December, Ary Sabir, the office director of KNN channel in Koya city told Metro that "Our channel office has been raided on by protesters and has been burnt”. 
171.On 20th of December, the journalist Difaa’ Harky, KNN channel correspondent, has been arrested by Akre Asayeesh.
172.On 21st of December, in Ranya city, several times Rozh News Agency correspondent Shamal Hassan has been wounded by tear-gas of the security forces.
173.On 22nd of December, in Sulaimanyah city downtown Saraa area, the security forces have attacked Hemin Hassan, the journalist in Khandan Site, accusing him for taking photos, and then arrested him. 
174.On 22nd of December, Harem Bahadin, the executive director of Khalk Media Network, told Metro that "throughout these protesting days in Sulaimanyah city and even around it, continually the work of our correspondent Nzar Jaza has been impeded, and our correspondent Aram Sardar has been threatened via mobile phone in Erbil city. For several days; News department employees, administration and finance director, Ahmad Mahmood, and the executive director Harem Bahadin have been all threatened via anonymous phone numbers, to impede them from our news and coverage about the protests. Meanwhile, these days when the protests have emerged, shift directors have been threatened to death”.
175.On 22nd of December, security forces of Halanja city center have impeded Jihad Hawramyee from conducting his journalistic work, who is the Rozh News Agency correspondent. 
176.On 23rd of December, Bahoz Nasradin, the journalist in NRT Digital Media in Sulaimanyah city, has been arrested by security forces.  
177.On 23rd of December, Halabja Asayeesh Directorate has arrested the journalist Draw Mahdy, claiming the excuse that he has provoked people for violence. 
178.On 24th of December, in front of Sulaimanyah Court, Avar Hamid who is an NRT photographer, has been arrested by the security forces while he was expressing his discontent against the decision of closing the channel.  
179.On 24th of December, in Sulaimanyah International Airport, both journalists of NRT channel Khabat Nawzad and Suhaib Ahmed have been impeded and arrested for a while by the Airport security forces, during their travel to Baghdad city.
180.On 24th of December, while covering Sulaimanayh city protests, Twana Baba Ali Essa, Kurdistan Voice Radio correspondent, has been impeded by security forces, and his journalistic equipment had been taken, as well. 
181.On 26th of December, Harem Bahadin, the executive director of Khalk Media Network, told Metro Center that "There are attempts for hacking into the Khalk Media Network Page, and there is a cyber-attack on the website of our Network. Previously, sometimes when the authority’s situation was imbalance, there were attacks on our website via cyber-attacks, due to which our website coverage has been sporadically stopping for many hours”.


         The meeting emphasized freedom of expression as a universal right, the implementation of Low of Organizing Journalistic Work, #35 & Law of Access to Information, #11, and denounced incitement of violence and intolerance in the media. 
In light of the above principles, Metro presents the following recommendations:
Government Institutions and establishments must guaranty journalistic freedoms, as they are stated in the laws of Organizing Journalistic Work, and Access to Information. They should not engage in any limitation of the rights that are guaranteed by law. 
Violations against journalists must stop. Especially, the closing of Media organization offices. No Media organization should be closed without an order from a judge.
The civic expression of opinion is a natural and legal right that should not be taken away for any reason.
The justice system must be activated to protect the rule of law, and bring violators against journalists to justice. All those who injured & illegally detained  journalists, shut down & looted media offices, and destroyed & seized journalists’ equipments, must be brought to justice and appropriate restitutions must be paid.
Steps must be taken to better the relations between the authorities and Media. Both sides must be encouraged to respect the rule of law and act responsibly. 
Barriers between journalists and the right to information must be eliminated. Abusing the right to classify information by the government must be addressed in a way that guaranties the right of journalists to access information.
When Government officials break the law, or misuse their authorities, the law guaranties the right to publicly identify them. Therefore it is more productive for them to exercise their right to respond in public instead of censorship or furbelows lawsuits. Government officials must accept criticism as a method of improving their performance.
"Unprofessional” conduct of journalists must not be used to justify violence against them. Coverage of demonstrations without prior permit is not a justification for violating the Law of Organizing Journalistic Work.
Journalists must abide by the laws regulating journalistic work, and by professionalism in their conduct. They should maintain fairness and balance in their coverage of events.
Media organizations must be treated equally and not discriminated against in their quest for information. They should be able to cover, without barriers all the events that the public is interested in. If security constrains are valid for restraining access of some media outlets, then they should be as valid for others too.
Detention of journalists for their legal quest for information must end.     
No security organ, other than police should be able to call journalists for interrogation. No interrogation should be allowed without a judge’s order.
We ask Kurdistan Parliament to form an investigative committee with appropriate authority to follow up on cases of violations against journalists, and cases of abuse & deactivation of the Journalistic Work Law and Freedom of Information Law.
KRG should pay careful attention to international and local organizations that monitor human rights and the rights of journalists. Rejection and denial are not the way to go in handling publicized cases of violations.
Media organizations must provide journalists with their journalistic equipments and means of protecting their lives. 
The competitive nature of live coverage of events should not be a reason for lessening the standards of professionalism and fairness. Media networks should hold accuracy at a high regard and stay away from heightening anxiety and raw emotions among the citizens. 
Systematic efforts must be made to bring together the leadership of media organizations in an effort to strategize their collective



PM:03:43:13/01/2018




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