The Metro Center for Journalists Rights & Advocacy has released its report on rights violations against journalists in the Federal Kurdistan Region.

Sulaymaniyah- On Sunday, the Metro Center for Journalists Rights & Advocacy held a press conference in Sulaymaniyah and shared its 2021 report on the freedom of journalism in the Federal Kurdistan Region.

353 violations were committed against 260 journalists and media organizations in 2021, 81 journalists were subjected to physical attacks, two journalists were subjected to armed attacks, journalistic equipment such as cameras and computers of seven journalists were confiscated, according to the report.

In her speech at the conference, Evîn Farîs, a member of the Metro Center, stated that journalists were attacked for doing their profession in 2021.

Journalists are harassed

After the press conference, we spoke to journalists attending the conference about the report. “Attacks and harassment (against journalists) become normal. Particularly, women journalists have faced harassment,” Hejan Xalid, writing a doctoral thesis on online harassment against journalists, told us.

Besoz Tofîq has worked as a journalist in the Federal Kurdistan Region for about 20 years. “Harassments against journalists are never stopped. Despite everything, I will continue to report the truth to citizens,” Besoz Tofîq told NuJINHA.

7 journalists were killed by ISIS in the 10 years

In the last 10 years, seven journalists were killed by ISIS in the Federal Kurdistan Region. 41 journalists were seriously wounded in bomb attacks. 35 journalists were arrested.  537 journalists were subjected to physical attacks and violence. Journalistic equipment such as cameras and computers of 219 journalists were confiscated. Three press vehicles were burned. The houses of 40 journalists were raided.