ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—International press freedom organizations have condemned an order by the Iraqi government’s media commission to ban Rudaw television as well as a recent crackdown on journalists across the country, including the death of a Kurdish cameraman in Kirkuk.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a statement on Monday that it “has learned with deep regret the ban imposed on two broadcasters, the assault on dozens of reporters and the killing of a journalist, in an extremely volatile political climate in Iraq.”
“The organisation expressed its strong concerns following the decision last week by the Iraqi media regulator, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), to shut down the Erbil-based Rudaw TV and K24 TV, a flagrant violation of Iraqi laws and a politically motivated decision.”
Iraq’s Media and Communications Commission sent a directive to the country’s armed forces, intelligence and other government institutions to stop Rudaw television and its crew from broadcasting or carrying out their duties as journalists.
Rudaw Media Network described this move by the Iraqi media commission as illegal.
“Sending such a paper to army and intelligence agencies shows a premeditated plan against Rudaw Media Network. Therefore, we openly and legally hold the Iraqi government responsible for the safety of all Rudaw employees, and we consider that decision illegal and an intimidation of Rudaw and freedom of press in Iraq.” Rudaw said in a statement.
Rudaw called on press organizations to condemn the ban order.
The IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger: “Iraq deserves an independent and professional regulatory body not only to regulate the audio visual sector, but also to support broadcasters in navigating through the country’s thorny politics. We call on the authorities to immediately lift the ban on these channels and allow them to resume work.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also denounced the Iraqi move to ban Rudaw as well as attacks on journalists from NRT and KNN stations outside the Kurdish parliament in Erbil, calling on KRG and Iraqi authorities to “thoroughly investigate and prosecute the murder of Arkan Sharifi, and must also investigate the attacks on NRT and KNN journalists," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Sherif Mansour in Washington D.C.
"Iraqi and Kurdish parties must stop using journalists as political pawns to settle their scores, and the Iraqi media regulator should immediately allow Rudaw TV and Kurdistan 24 to resume broadcasts," Mansour said.
Arkan Sharifi, 58, a cameraman for KTV and a school principal was stabbed to death in front of his family in the town of Daquq south of Kirkuk by unknown attackers.
