The U.S. Consulate General in Erbil has expressed deep concern over the recent arrest of several journalists from Kurdistan news outlets.
The consulate told Channel8 in a statement that they urge the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to uphold press freedoms and media access, calling for an end to the arrest or detention of journalists performing their duties.
The statement reads: "We urge the Kurdistan Regional Government to support press freedoms and media access, and refrain from the arrest or detention of working journalists, warrantless searches of their devices, or confiscation of their equipment when they are just doing their jobs.
We are concerned about all violations of press freedom in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, and call for the full implementation of the IKR Press Law and the IKR Access to Information Law.”
This statement comes in the wake of the arrest of several journalists including three members of Channel8’s news team on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Amedi, where they were reporting on the Turkish military’s invasion of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The detained individuals were Hawar Yousef, the driver; Nzhiar Mohammed, the reporter; and Bahez Akreyi, the cameraman.
They were arrested for 21 hours and then released.
This incident is part of a troubling trend where several journalists have been detained at the Amedi border while covering the ongoing Turkish military operations, typically being released after several hours in detention.
The Duhok branch of the Union of Journalists has announced an investigation into these arrests is underway. However, there has been no update regarding the release of the Channel8 team.
For three weeks, the Turkish army has been conducting intensive military operations in the Amedi district of Duhok province, which is part of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
-channel8