The Kurdistan Region’s Journalism Law: Protections for Reporters

Reports 11:35 AM - 2025-12-03

Shaima Ahmed, Channel 8 Correspondent, Faces Interruption as Authorities Seize Microphone and Equipment in Lajan, Erbil.

Reposted by PUKMEDIA with full credit to Channel 8 English

The Kurdistan Region’s Journalism Law affirms that journalists are fully independent in performing their professional duties and cannot be subjected to any authority beyond the law itself.

Free Media Work, No Prior Censorship

Under Article 2 of Law No. 35 (2007) on Journalism in the Kurdistan Region, the media operates freely and without censorship. The law guarantees freedom of expression and publication for all citizens, provided these freedoms respect privacy rights and individual liberties and comply with the standards of the International Federation of Journalists’ Charter.

Right to Access Information & Professional Independence

Journalists have the legal right to obtain information from all sources on matters of public interest. According to Article 7, reporters are independent in their professional work and cannot be pressured or controlled by any party outside the scope of the law. The legislation also prohibits banning or confiscating newspapers.

Penalties for Assaulting Journalists

A key protection in the law is the safeguarding of journalists’ dignity. Anyone who insults or assaults a journalist because of their work faces the same penalties applied to attacks on public employees performing official duties.

Interrogation and Search Procedures

Article 8 outlines strict procedures for any investigation involving journalists. Reporters cannot be interrogated or have their workplaces or homes searched without a judicial order and prior notification to the Deputy of the Journalists Syndicate.

This legislation ensures that journalists in the Kurdistan Region are protected from undue pressure, censorship, and attacks, while providing legal safeguards for their work.

About Channel 8:
CHANNEL 8 is an independent contemporary media corporation, established in 2023 in the Kurdistan Region with its headquarters in Sulaymaniyah. Operating through two television channels, a digital platform in multiple languages, a radio station, and a research centre, CHANNEL 8 delivers verified and impartial news with a global perspective. Its mission is to give voice to the voiceless, tell untold stories, and foster a better future through honest and unbiased reporting.


PUKMEDIA / Channel 8