ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has added its voice to the call on Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava) to reverse their decision to suspend Rudaw Media Network’s license in the region, adding that all journalists should work freely.
“Authorities in Northern Syria must halt their censorship efforts against the Rudaw network and investigate thoroughly assaults against its staff,” CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour was quoted in a statement by the media watchdog on Wednesday.
“Journalists should be allowed to cover the region independently without retribution, no matter how the Asayish forces feel about it.”
The New York-based CPJ statement said that it approached Rojava’s relevant authorities for a comment but they did not reply.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) on Saturday announced the suspension of Rudaw Media Network’s license to operate in Rojava, claiming that the network spreads hate and misinformation. This came just days after Rudaw’s crew was attacked by unknown assailants in Qamishli while covering the funeral of some members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
“Rudaw Media Network has for a long time now through its outlets spread hate, and has badly portrayed the Autonomous Administration’s institutions,” read a copy of the decision sent to Rudaw, adding that they had previously warned the media outlet twice.
The ruling also revokes the license of all Rudaw employees in Rojava.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also condemned the decision by Rojava authorities, urging them to lift the suspension and “let the network and its staff operate freely. Syria needs a free press and the public deserve free and pluralistic media.”
On Tuesday, a United States official told Rudaw that the US advocates for press freedom and the safety of media workers worldwide, and that “A free and independent press is vital to healthy governments as they enable citizens to make informed decisions while holding officials accountable.”
Rudaw’s teams have previously repeatedly come under attack in Rojava. The network’s office in Qamishli has been 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.
