Sulaymaniyah Journalist Awarded in New York, Activist Arrested in Erbil

PUKMEDIA

Niaz Abdulla and Ali Rauf.

A journalist from Sulaymaniyah has been awarded the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in New York. Meanwhile, an activist and general representative of tutors in the Kurdistan Region was arrested by the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) Asayish forces in Erbil.

On November 16, 2023, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) awarded Niaz Abdullah, a journalist from Sulaymaniyah, the International Press Freedom Prize in New York City.

Abdullah wrote on her Facebook page: "I dedicated my award to four symbols of Kurdistan's freedom fighters: Badinan prisoners, Zhina Amini, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Mazloum Abdi."

She added: "The difficulties and challenges facing journalism, no matter how many, can be translated into courage and continuous work, so all continuous efforts and struggles to protect press freedom and democratic principles will be fruitful and can lead to change."

Meanwhile, on the morning of Saturday, November 18, 2023, Ali Rauf, an activist and representative of tutors in the Kurdistan Region, was arrested by the Asayish forces of the KDP at the Kalak checkpoint. Rauf's intention was to travel to Erbil in order to advocate for the rights of teachers and organize demonstrations, mirroring similar activities taking place in other cities within the Kurdistan Region.



PUKMEDIA