Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate Records 46 Violations Against Journalists in 2025

Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate's Media Office

Press conference of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate.

The Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate has released its annual report on violations against journalists’ and media institutions’ rights for 2025, recording 46 violations against journalists and media outlets.

A press conference was held on Monday, 19 January 2026, at the Syndicate headquarters in Erbil, where the Syndicate’s Board for Protecting Journalists’ Freedoms and Rights presented its 34th report on violations against journalist during 2025. Attendees included Azad Hamad, Secretary of the Syndicate; Handrin Ahmed, Head of the Board; Karwan Anwar, Simko Abdulkarim, and Goran Jalal, board members; and Husammadin Sardar, Legal Advisor to the Syndicate.

The report covers violations within the Kurdistan Region, Kurdish areas outside the Region’s administration, and incidents involving the Iraqi federal government and its security forces. 

According to the report, 23 violations were recorded against 45 journalists and one media outlet. 

The report stated that the Sulaymaniyah branch of the Syndicate also followed up on 100 cases involving journalists and media outlets in local courts.

The report noted a decline in violations compared to previous years, down from 84 cases in 2023 and 73 in 2024.

During the conference, officials highlighted the need to grant journalists residential land plots, similar to other professionals, and included recommendations for 2026, including amendments to certain laws once the Kurdistan Parliament resumes and the issuance of resolutions supporting journalism and media freedom in the Region.




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