The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to “take responsibility” and bring the perpetrators who attacked and beat Kurdish journalist Karwan Haji in Duhok province on January 15, to justice.
The IFJ released a statement on Wednesday (January 18) condemning the attack on the journalist Haji by an armed group from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Duhok’s Ba’adre district.
The IFJ joined its-affiliate the Kurdistan Journalists Union (KJU) in “blaming” the security forces for their failure to protect the safety of journalists in the Kurdistan Region, the statement added.
“The IFJ condemns this thuggish behavior of KDP officials and demands the government of Kurdistan Region of Iraq, led by that party [KDP], take responsibility, disassociates itself from this attack and bring the attackers to justice,” said IFJ President, Philippe Leruth.
According to the statement, the attack came after Haji criticized the abusive behaviors of the KDP officials towards citizens in Ba’adre district on his Facebook page.
Photographs of the journalist’s face released on social media after the attack showed bruising and swelling on his forehead and nose.
According to a report by Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy, 175 violations were recorded against 148 journalists in the Kurdistan Region, including murder, injuring, illegal detention, and breaking and seizing of journalists’ equipment.
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