Sehend Mayiwar
The Kurdistan Region’s Journalists Syndicate on Monday called on security forces to improve their treatment of journalists after several media teams were reportedly mistreated a day prior, while covering a protest at Erbil’s doorstep.
A statement by the syndicate highlighted that “tensions erupted” at the Degala checkpoint, located between Erbil and Sulaimani on Sunday, after striking teachers were prevented from entering the Kurdistan Region’s capital.
“Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators” and “several media teams were prevented from returning to Erbil” following the chaos, said the Syndicate, charging that security services in Erbil adopted “strict measures” against some journalists.
Moreover, the syndicate called on relevant authorities to “respect the work of journalists” and urged “media workers to adopt the standard safety procedures,” especially during protests.
The press association’s statement further stressed that preventing journalists from doing their job, confiscating their equipment and preventing them from returning to Erbil were all violations of their rights. It further urged security forces “to treat journalists properly” and reminded media workers to contact Kurdistan’s Freedom and Journalist’s Rights Advocacy Committee when necessary.
On Sunday, security forces blocked striking teachers from Sulaimani from reaching Erbil through the Degala checkpoint. The protesters were headed to demonstrate outside the United Nations’ compound in the Kurdistan Region’s capital.
Teachers in Sulaimani have been protesting for nearly two weeks and have set up a camp outside the UN headquarters in the city. Some of them have been on hunger strike for the past 13 days. The striking teachers are demanding a resolution to the ongoing salary crisis, as many of them have not been reimbursed for many months of work over the past decade.[1]