ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Rudaw Media Network crew was attacked by unknown people in Qamishli, northeast Syria (Rojava) on Wednesday while covering the funeral of 12 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Rudaw team consisted of reporter Viviyan Fettah, cameraman Issa Hassan and driver Abdullah Majdal. They were attacked by unidentified people at 2pm on Wednesday. Six female members from Qamishli’s local security forces (Asayish) prevented Fettah from covering the funeral and disrespected her. They then moved her to the Asayish headquarters in Qamishli. Later, both co-chairs of Asayish in Qamishli apologised to Fettah for the treatment of Asayish members at the cemetery and she was allowed to leave. However, at the same time, five people, who were wearing military uniform but were not members of Asayish or police, put Rudaw cameraman and driver in the crew’s vehicle and took them to outside Qamishli. After beating and threatening them, they were released. In this attack, Rudaw crew’s camera and livestream device, and the documents of the reporter were taken. Fettah’s purse included her Rudaw ID card, Free Media Union ID, Syrian citizenship card, driver license, vehicle registration document and her journalism license which was issued by Rojava administration. All these were taken but other items and her money was untouched. After the crew was released and their torture was identified, head of Rudaw’s office in Qamishli and the attacked crew filed a lawsuit at the Asayish headquarters, and they were promised that the attackers will be found and their goods will be recovered. This is not the first time Rudaw team and office have been attacked in Rojava. Rudaw’s office in Qamishli has been previously attacked six times. A number of the attacks were by the Revolutionary Youth group, which is affiliated to the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD). The Asayish forces of the Autonomous Administration are yet to hold anyone accountable for the attacks on Rudaw’s offices. Rudaw’s team has also on several occasions been prevented from working and faced detention by the Asayish forces. Rudaw team was prevented from entering Hasaka city last week to cover the Islamic State (ISIS) attack on a prison in the city.
