RORD Report: 175 Violations Against Journalists in Kurdistan Region, Erbil Tops the List

Kurdistan 02:04 PM - 2025-02-02

Hozan Qadir, Head of RORD.

According to the annual report by the Reporters Organisation for Rights & Developments (RORD), 175 violations were perpetrated against journalists and media outlets in the Kurdistan Region last year. Additionally, 3 cyberattacks were launched against the media, including two attacks on the official website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), PUKMEDIA. The report also shows that the highest number of violations against journalists occurred in Erbil, while the fewest were recorded in Sulaymaniyah.

Hozan Qadir, Head of the RORD, told PUKMEDIA: "Over the past year, 175 violations were committed against journalists and media outlets in the Kurdistan Region, of which 116 cases have been opened. Among these violations, seven were committed against female journalists."

He added, "The highest number of violations occurred in Erbil province, with 44 violations, followed by Duhok province with 41 violations and Halabja province with 18 violations. In Sulaymaniyah province, which has the largest number of media outlets with diverse voices, the fewest violations were committed, with only 13."

Erbil Records Highest Number of Violations

Qadir stated: “The violations against journalists include arrests, refusal of coverage, attacks and insults, beatings, confiscation of identity cards, filing complaints against journalists, threats, destruction of journalistic equipment, agency raids, and seizure of journalistic materials. Erbil ranked first in these violations.”

According to the statistics from the RORD, three cyberattacks were carried out against two media outlets last year. The official website of the PUK (PUKMEDIA) was one of the electronic media targeted from Erbil.

The statistics also show that the most common violation committed against journalists was the refusal to allow coverage, with 27 cases in Erbil, 30 cases in Duhok, four cases in Sulaymaniyah, and 16 cases in Halabja.



PUKMEDIA