U.S. concerned about freedom in Kurdistan Region, KDP restricts it

PUKMEDIA

The KDP Asayish preventing the protest.

Two days after the United States (U.S.) voiced concerns about restrictions on press and media freedom in the Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)'s Asayish forces, disguised as civilians, prevented and assaulted journalists who were attempting to cover a protest by female students in Erbil.

The U.S. Consulate General stated that Consul General Irvin Hicks shares concerns for "the backslide in human rights, freedom of expression and media, and the rights of minorities and women in the IKR."

"The United States is dedicated to defending freedom of expression and the press and believes that journalists and media outlets should be able to cover the news without fear of intimidation, harassment, or retaliation," the statement continued. Nonetheless, the KDP Asayish forces in Erbil engaged in "intimidation and harassment" and violated press freedom.

A journalist reported to PUKMEDIA that KDP Asayish forces attacked journalists in civilian clothing in front of the girls' dormitory in Erbil.

"The dormitory staff also prevented us from covering the protests," Biryar Mohammed, a reporter for Politic Press, told PUKMEDIA.

On Sunday, February 19, 2023, Erbil Polytechnic University female students took to the streets to protest the lack of facilities in their dormitory department. A number of Erbil Asayish forces, dressed as civilians, barred journalists from covering the students' demonstration.

According to the students, there are power outages and hot water shortages in their dormitory department.

"We want hot water and fuel, but we are not given it," the students told PUKMEDIA. "Most of the students have fallen ill due to the lack of hot water."



PUKMEDIA