Journalists Are Not Treated With Based on Journalism Law
Metro documented 231 violations against 209 journalists and media outlets. They can be summarized as 


following:
Prevention of Coverage: 124 incidents.
Beatings, Threats and Humiliations: 22 incidents.
Confiscation of Journalistic Tools: 13 incidents.
Detention without Lawful Warrants from Judges: 20 incidents.
Detention and Charges outside the Law Regulating Journalism: 43 incidents.
Raids and Forced Shut-down of Media Outlets: 3 incidents.
Electronic Attacks on Media Broadcast: 4 incidents.
Terrorizing Journalist with Gunshots Directed at Their Homes: 1 incident.
Burning of A Journalist’s Automobiles: I incident.


There are menaces on freedom of press on three sides 
Metro documented 231 violations against 209 journalists and media outlets. They can be summarized as following:
Prevention of Coverage: 124 incidents.
Beatings, Threats and Humiliations: 22 incidents.
Confiscation of Journalistic Tools: 13 incidents.
Detention without Lawful Warrants from Judges: 20 incidents.
Detention and Charges outside the Law Regulating Journalism: 43 incidents.
Raids and Forced Shut-down of Media Outlets: 3 incidents.
Electronic Attacks on Media Broadcast: 4 incidents.
Terrorizing Journalist with Gunshots Directed at Their Homes: 1 incident.
Burning of A Journalist’s Automobiles: I incident.
  Kurdistan journalists need creating a safe and encouraging environment for their work more than any time; an environment that guarantees freedom of speech and having access to the sources of information, so as to be able to render information to people and be a partner in the process to fight the corruption phenomena.


There is a need to have an environment according to the international standards; in which the media should be independent, particolored and pluralistic. Freedom of speech in the means of visual, audio, written and electronic media have to safe and protected. Serious efforts have to be made to end the phenomenon of impunity, the crimes that are committed against the media-workers. The law of journalism and information be active in a way that guaranteed their participation by establishing the principles of transparency and accountability.


 Violence Based on Gender
 
  In spite of raising awareness concerning harassment and violence against women and girls via media, social median and public health awareness and social research has increased, but still protecting women and girl journalists within the media institutions, is a huge challenge that faces the media and advocating organizations.




  Due to the sensitivity of the subject, the cases of harassing girls and women journalists have been silenced and gone unheard of, but there are significant efforts to break this silence and uncover these types of breach, based on the sex and gender against the media-workers; risk assessment and cooperating the victims. The most significant investigative report in this field is made and prepared by the journalist ( Koral Nury) to the Iraqi Journalists Net for Investigative Journalism, and she said “ Out of 600 women journalists who participated in the survey, 127 were not ready to answer”.
  It is alarming despite of having a great number of skillful and aptitude girls and women journalists in lots of the media foundation and in the boards of decision making and leadership, but cannot benefit from their skills and abilities, and their roles are underestimated and ignored deliberately; gender balance is meager in theses foundation, they are perplexed, and apart from their harassment in the social media.


  We are from the Metro Center, in our agenda, in coordination with the Danish (IMS) organization and the USA (Internews) have worked for the gender balance aspects to counter harassment based on gender, or order it shall be felt in our bylaws and plans. 


 Despite the fact that the message of men and women media-workers shall not make any change by gender difference, which is one media message and the goal is to reflect and deliver the truths for the public opinion, but in many cases, in the division of media programs, the women journalists are assigned with entertainment parts, and the political programs to the men journalists, and we should not also forget that in many media channels, the women are both in higher posts and appear in political programs, these channels created chances for them, but they did not take gender equality into consideration as necessary as possible.


  For the coming 2020, in its annual report the Metro in coordination with the IMS shall shed light on the defilements that are made due gender difference against women journalist; and it shall make endeavor with media outlets for the purpose of creating real and actual opportunities for the women journalists, moreover; it shall reveal the issued and defilements.
 
Menacing Girls Journalists 


  Avan Jaff, the editor-in-chief of Zhin (Women) Magazine, is one of the prominent female journalists; she has faced a lot of defamation and menace for publishing her views and opinions.
 Avan stated due to the partisan bigotry, you will witness hundreds of posts that are full of offences and hate speech against each other and different points of views, she also added following publishing a post, I received a menace letter, the letters are safe by the Metro.
 She attributes the reason to that patriarch culture is still prevalent over the Kurdish society, and the appearance of girls and women journalist or activists and human rights advocate deemed as a threat to this patriarch system.
   It is almost few years that Avan has launched a campaign on the social media, named” well-done” this campaign encourages women and girls who have been successful in their field of work.
  Both journalist Parcham Qaradaghi and Solin Ali, who previously worked for Xendan Website and Nawa Radio, are now freelancers, they make a follow up for the case of murder of Sewan Qadir, who was murder with her three children burned in the mid November 2018, in Chamchamal District, where her three children died immediately and after staying in hospital for one week Sewan also passed away, and prior to her death she stated that “ her husband has committed this against her and her three children”.
 Parcham stated “that due to their follow up to the case, they faced menace and were being watched; she also stated that they were menaced through messenger and even thrown letter to their housed, and they are threatening their life if they do not give up following that case”.


Apprehension Is Used As Means of Revenge


  During the previous period follow up, Metro center made follow up for some journalistic cases, it has observed that some of the cases are related to the published at the investigation units of Kurdistan region, the journalism law is absolutely and totally ignored and investigate with the journalists with another law and (apprehension) outside of journalism law, this is used as a sort of revenge against the journalist.
 On 12 -11, Amanj Ahmed, the reporter of ( Sbey) website  in Sorna and Balakayaty, visits Bradost for a journalist duty, then he was apprehended at the security ( Asaish ) of this are under the pretext of “ Not getting the license”.
 On 10 -11, due to publishing a report by at the NRT channel, a judge lodged a legal case against the manager of this channel Shwan Adil and his reporter Ihsan Sabir, both had their statements in front of Kalar Investigation Court, then decided to be detained 20 days, but both were released on bail the same day.
 Previously each of ( Mohammed Rauf, Fazil Hama Rafaat, Namiq Rasul, Niyaz Abdulla) editor-in-chief and board of editors of ( Draw Media) and journalists Hemin Mamand, Rizgar Kochar and Karukh Omar editor-in-chief of ( Snur Media) were summoned to the court, according to the ( Law number 6 of the year 2008  of The Law of Misuse of Media in the Kurdistan Region).
 Metro center announces that we all abide by to the general law, but if there is special law for a specific category, in this case the court has resorts to it, as it was said” private confines the general”.
 In the law of journalism work, neither apprehension nor the prison sentence are mentioned, again we reiterate that “the journalists have be dealt with the articles of the law of journalism, apprehension and detaining the journalist at the police stations and security ( Asaish) are a kind of revenge on the media-workers and condemn it”.
 The law of journalism reiterates that “ the views and opinions issued by the journalists; or the information the journalist publishes should not lead to destroy the journalist life or damage the journalist and its rights”.


 Manager of Deng Radio was sentenced on 18 -11, due to a complain on Deng radio, Kalar court of misdemeanor, sentenced Azad Othman, the manager of the radio for 3 months detention and fining him with 225000 IQD to pay as compensation. Although the subject was related to the issue of publishing, but the court’s decision was issued the verdict according to the article 433 of the Iraqi penal code. Azad Othman, was sentenced for 3 months detention and fining him with 225000 IQD to pay as compensation.
On 8 December, Shwan Adil, the previous manager of the NRT channel, was apprehended by the order of Sulyamaniyah court of investigation, and this was on the request of the President of  Sulaimani University, the order was for 7 days, but after staying in prison for one night, Shwan Adil, was released on bail.
 
 Metro center has full conviction that journalism profession, like any other professions, a journalist can make a mistake, may be due to the news issues, and a number of people will be harmed or smear their fame and personality, we therefore request that cases of writing should be dealt with based on the law of journalism, where the law has set the law of fine, but the cases that are register at the Metro, does not seem to have been dealt with the journalism law.
 The reporter and cameraman of KNN in Chamchamal, Ari Luqman, and Hemin Ahmed, filed a lawsuit against some officers because of breaking his camera, but on 16-05- 2019 he as summoned to the police station and was apprehended for 24 hours, then he was released.


 Both journalists of the Roj News ( Zuber Bradosty) on 21-06, and ( Bryar Mohammed) on 21- 08 were apprehended in Erbil separately, the first was for more than 5 months, and the second more 10 days kept in custody, then released.
 
 All the procedures that  are taken by the investigation judges comes at a time, where in the law of journalism never mentioned imprison sentence or apprehension, where they should have been dealt with the items and paragraphs of the law of journalism with these cases and be released on bail during that time, not be kept in apprehension and custody.


 The Government Answered


 Due to not implementing the law of journalism in the cases pertaining to the apprehended journalists and sentencing on these cases, the Deputy of Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister ( Qubad Talabany) raised his voice by writing a post via his personal account on Facebook and stated “ Prison us not the place of the journalists and critics, but it is a place of criminals and thieves, and if a journalist made a mistake and libeled someone without an evidence, then we have the law of journalism and this has to be dealt with this law, rather than resorting to menace, violence and apprehension”.
  Qubad Talabany also added “I shall have a broad meeting with the relevant parties and the journalists to find a mechanism to end this type of treatment with the journalist, of which the last case is the journalist Azad Othman”.
 Within this frame, on 15-12,  the Deputy of Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister ( Qubad Talabany) presided a meeting, where Mr. Mohammed M. Saeed, the Minister of Culture, the representative of judiciary, attorney general, Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, Metro Center and Dr. Saman Fawzi, who is a specialist in this field, and Mr. Majeed Salih, the consultant of Parliament, Azad Othman, Manager of Deng Radion. For us, this was an important meeting and all showed eagerness to the rule of law, especially the Prime Minister, who reiterated that, the cases of journalists have to be dealt with distinctly, and the prison is not place of the journalists, it is better refuge to soft answer with the cases of the thought and viewpoints at the courts, he also shed light on the importance of  activating the law of journalism and the right to have access to information, and requested to deal with the cases of the writing based on the law of journalism and regulates these cases.


 Parliament is Supportive 


 In its activities, meeting and stances, the Metro Center has been making endeavors to have the rule of law and expanding the coalition between the journalists, civil activists and official institution to respect the law of journalism. In Metro Center’s visit to the Speaker of the Parliament ( Rewaz Fayaq) we requested her that in cases of publishing and releasing there should resort to the general laws, there should be  dealt with the journalist based on the articles and items of the journalism law.
 Metro’s delegation discussed their follow up for some journalistic cases which are related to the publishing, but within the investigation units, the law of journalism are totally ignored. They deal with the journalists in another law and issue their arrest and apprehension warrant outside of the law of journalism.
 They also talked about the importance of activating the law of journalism and the right to have access as an important weapon in fighting corruption.
 The Speaker of Parliament, asserted her support to the requests and demands of Metro Center and Journalists, she also reiterated that the cases pertaining to publishing there should not resort to general law, but to work based on items and paragraphs of the journalism law.


  Areas Outside of Kurdistan Region


  In the areas mentioned the article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, the journalists are badly treated and live a hostile environment against their profession the carry out their works.
 Due to the arrest and violence and confiscating their journalistic equipment, they are prevented from covering the incidents, lack of providing them with information, affronting them, until it reached that within one governorate, the journalist are being tried for exceeding limits (crossing border).
  In the middle of May 2019, Metro Center requests the Iraqi President, Iraqi Prime Minister and Iraqi Ministers to make a serious investigation on these violations.
 A team of the KNN channel was arrested by the Iraqi Federal Police and the PMU, while they were preparing to record a program in Khanaqin, they were apprehended and later handed to the police of Khanaqin.


• On 02-03, a team of the KNN channel, which was made of ( Abulrahman Abubakir, the preparer and presenter of the program of “ Debade” Village by Village, and each of the cameraman Rawa Ahmed, Sarkawt Karim and their driver Hardy Atta) to register the program of “ Debade” Village by Village, they visited  Khanaqin District, they were arrested by the Iraqi Federal Police and the PMU, then handed them to the Khanaqin police and after 24 hours they were set free.
• During the live coverage, the security forces in Kirkuk Governorate, prevented the journalistic team of the K24 and did not allow them to have their work done.
• Karwan Star, the reporter of ( Kirkuk Now) stated to the Metro : near the village, after being allowed by a force, then another force came and said what are doing here?, we were taken with a team of the NRT to the battalion headquarter with our cars, in the middle of the road of the intelligence officers interrogated with me and reiterated that the officer attacked him by slapping on my face.
• Also a team of the NRT, which was made of the reporter of the channel, Aso Ahemed, and Hawta Bahroz, the cameraman, were apprehended for nearly 8 hours near Palkana village which is affiliated to Sargarran sub-district in Kikruk governorate, then they were released on bail, Aso ahmed stated to the NRT” While we were arrested by the Iraqi security forces, we were tortured and affronted” this media-workers stated that this occurred under the pretetxt of not having license and permission, then after 8 hours we were released on bail.


 Banning Statement to Reporters


Tens of journalists and media-workers of Kirkuk addressed a memorandum to the three Iraqi Presidencies, they requested on preventing these violation that are committed against the Kurdish journalist by the Iraqi security forces in this city.
 On 20-11, the branch of Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate in Kirkuk, in a press conference, described the situation and condition of the journalists which is quite bad, and also shed light on the types of banning and preventions that are used against them.
 It also stated “ directors of the office, are under no circumstance cooperative in providing information to the journalists, in a way that there are journalist who could not prepare a journalist report in a week, since there was not ready to give statement and provide him with information”.
 
 By a decision of Kirkuk’s acting governor Rakan Saeed Juburi, on 05-09 went into effect; making stamen and providing information by the whole administrative offices of this governorate is banned, except of one circumstance which is “ Getting his personal and general directorates permissions” the order of the governor only the offices and administrative units can provide information who permission of the governor and general directorates.


Senior Media Council   


 In several place, including Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, Kurdistan Women’s Union, some university lecturer make meetings and debates to the media outlets for the purpose of dialogue and converse regarding the Draft Law of Senior Media Council in Kurdistan Region.
 Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, in its local session under the name of (Preparation conference for the fourth conference) has decided and supposed that one of the topics of their next conference and confirm that “Work on regulating the field of media Kurdistan via Laws of Senior Media Council and Law of Audio and Visual” but so far their Draft Law has not been released for the public opinion.
 On 23-11- 2019, the Metro Center, requested all media and journalistic outlets in Kurdistan, not to rush in support of the draft law of establishing senior media council at this stage, but rather they have to request the implementation of the law of journalism.


 Within this framework, Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, in one its conferences name “International Forum of Journalists” which was held on 16-17 December 2019, by the participation a group of journalists, a part of the of European and Middle East syndicates, and by the presence of the International Journalists Federation, held this activity.
 On the second day of this forum, Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate presented the draft law of two projects, and we shall write it down as it is:
1- The draft law of the Senior Media Council (To Regulate the Field of Media).
2- The draft law of the first project of establishing audio, visual and social media foundation in Kurdistan Region.
 This comes at a time, where the Kurdistan Region in 1992 issued (6) laws about the field of publishing, journalism and information which are called the Law of Printing of Iraqi Kurdistan, number (10) of the year 1993, the Law of Iraqi Kurdistan Journalism Syndicate, number 4) of the year 1998, the law of publishing in the official gazette, number (4) of the year 1999, law of Kurdistan journalists pension fund number 13) of the year 2001, the law of journalism in Kurdistan, number (35) of the year 2007, number (11) of the year 2013, the law of the right to have access to information in Kurdistan Region- Iraq.
 In addition to these laws, the Ministry of Culture, instruction number (1) of the year 2014, instruction to regulate frequency of space in Kurdistan Region which is issued by Ministry of Culture (Despite our reservation points on this instruction).
 Our point of view is that “Our laws are quite a lot, there is not a huge gap to pop up with a senior media council, but what is important is the implementation of previous laws”.


  If the purpose of establishing a similar council is to guaranteed the professional ethic and regulating the media, then Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate  number (35) of 2007 and then the pledge honor to the International Federation of Press as a standard for carrying out the professional duty, can be adopted at this stage and not refuge to issue another law.
 Again, we request the media outlets and Kurdistan Journalists not rush in support of the establishment of the senior media council, instead of that they should have a collective effort to the law of journalism and steps of implementing them, so that the law will not be put in the archive chamber of the courts forever.
 This does not mean that having a council to regulate media is something wrong, since this is implemented in some democratic system, but in any country where this is not separated, where its independent foundations are based on quotas for parties, there is not guarantee for the concerns of this council which is the expansion of journalism work.


  Contracts of Journalists Persecution 


  Karwan Anwar, secretary of Sulaymaniyah Branch of Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, in a meeting with Sbey Website, described the contracts that are made by the journalists and media outlets as “Persecution Contracts”.
 The contracts are injustice, marriage leave, sick leave, risk, allowance for children, women and maternity are not guaranteed; the contracts are always in the interest of the employer, whenever the employer wanted (Where in Kurdistan Region, most of the media outlets are affiliated to the political factions) their contracts will be rescinded.
 Alas, while the media outlets in Kurdistan request for the implementation of the journalism law; they themselves do not implement the sections and items, especially the one that is related to the right and privilege of the journalists.
  In the items (eighth, ninth and tenth) and in the fourth chapter of journalism law the rights and privileges of normal leave, getting sick, compensating the journalists working while on holiday.
  Beside the journalism law, there is another law that supports the journalist and their rights, which is the law number (40) of the Iraqi Kurdistan Journalism Law, which was issued on 06-10- 2004.
 But so far, Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate has not been able to make necessary works and efforts for its law, especially the one that is related to the rights of the journalists and protecting them from oppression and persecution by their employers. 


 It is mentioned in the article 19, chapter fourth, the journalist is dealt with as an employee in terms of granting them normal leave and sick leave, or during their employment in offices, their duration of journalism work for the salary (Bonus, promotion and pension) shall be added to their work.
 In the third paragraph of the same chapter, it is mentioned that if the journalist is affected with any incident, the party of which he / she works for has to offer necessary assistant for them, and this is as something related to the right of pension.




  Journalists Are Targeted During Demonstrations


  On Saturday, 26 -01- 2019, a part of the residents of Shila Dize sub-district organized a demonstration in protest of the Turkish Army bombardments, then attacking a barrack of the Turkish Army and occupied it, the demonstrators set ablaze on some automobiles and equipment. Following that incident, the security forces arrested some activists and demonstration organizers, among them there was some journalists arrested under the pretext of “Inciting” people for demonstration, who were:
 Guhdar Zebari, Sagvan Barwari, Mihvan Barashi, Bulbul Abdulla, Bayar Amedi, Nechervan Barwari ( Bahdinan Sat).
 Karwan Sadeq ( Gali Kurdistan)
 Amad Brifkani ( Payam Channel)
Sherwan Sherwani, Safar Haji, Omed Haji, Dlovan Zebari, Mustafa Bamarni, Rekan Kalakchi, Mohammed Musheer, Ayaz Karam, Dashty Nerwayee ( Payam Channel)
Chayee Belizani, Tayf Goran (NRT)
Ayhan Saeed (Responsible of Metro Center in Duhok Governorate)
Bryar Neroye ,Nihda Oramary  Bewar Hilmi, Adil Sabri, Omar Fazil( NRT)
Lutfi Doski ( Bahdinan Sat)
Mustafa Salih, Sherwan Sherwani, Omed Haji, Dlovan Zebari, Safar Haji, Omed Haji, Dlovan Zebari, Rekan Kalakchi, Mohammed musheer and Ayaz Karam ( Independent).
 In these operations, almost 70 civil activists are apprehended, by the pressure exerted by people; part of these activists and journalists were released on bail until their trial date, a number of these who were apprehended were tried according to the article (156) of the Iraqi penal code, in which is will lead to life imprisonment and death penalty, so far these charges have not been dropped from them. 
 During that time requested that the journalists to be treated according to the law of journalism profession number (35) of the year 2007, and the demonstrators be treated according to the law of demonstration. The activists who demonstrated against the existence of the Turkish in Kurdistan Region of Iraq, they did not commit any crime; and the journalist were carrying out their journalist duties to cover the incidents, we exerted different pressures to release them.


Closure of NRT Channel 


 In the evidence of Shilade on 27-01- 2019, the  NRT office in Duhok governorate was shut down by a security forces, though one day later the security forces decided to open the office, but on 24-02- 2019, Duhok Court decided to open the NRT office in Duhok.
Closure of the NRT for 29 days, is a visible example of the Kurdistan Region’s treatment, in the event of peoples’ resentment and social activities against the government’s policies.
 What is striking in the decision of shutdown of the NRT office, “even the Minister of Culture of Kurdistan Region, stated he was not aware of the closure”  Shwan Adil , the manager of  NRT said.
Decision of Closure NRT3 Children Channel
  But after more than one month, the Ministry of Culture, on 07-03-2019, decided to halt the NRT3 children channel broadcasting.
Ministry of Culture, put pressure on the companies responsible of broadcasting to stop the NRT3, the main broadcast is operated outside of Kurdistan Region, which is on the Nile Sat satellite.
 The letter of order of closure was addressed to the Mix Media Company in which decided to close down this channel under the pretext of lack of license and permission.
Previously on 03-03-2019, the Ministry of Culture and Youth via the directorate of Media and Publication in Sulaymaniyah notified the NRT3 to close down the channel within 24 hours, or else the legal procedure shall be taken against them.
 What is striking, the Ministry of Culture, observes the procedures only during the political challenges intensifies, therefore if the decision is fully legal, this falls within the political pressures.
Sometimes under the pretext of accumulation of debts on the local channels, the Ministry of Culture decided on the closure of the channels, for example the one that issued on May in which decided on closure of 23 channels, where 12 of them are in Erbil, 5 are in Sulaymaniyah and the 6 others are in Duhok.


 Do Not Say That All Information Is Government’s Secret!
 It is mentioned in the article 19 of the human rights declaration, that everyone has the right to express his / her opinion and views, this article refers to that everyone without fear and anxiety have their own beliefs about the right to have access to information and publish them with freedom.
 The law number 11 of 2013 ( The law of having access to information Iraqi Kurdistan Region) which was issued on  05-06-2013, so far we are about to close its seventh year on the issuance of this law, but in the majority of offices of Kurdistan Regional government, this law has gone into effect, the official directorates regard all information as the government’s secret.
 According to the law, in most of the governmental office, the information units have not been formed, so that the citizen and media outlets be able to have access to the information, to be able and participate in the government’s move to fight corruption.
 On the 11-10- 2016 session of the Council of Ministers of Kurdistan Regional Government decided to approve the instruction 11 of the law of having access to information, we supported this to approve the instruction 11, but the obstacles in front of implementing this decision have not been removed, so far most the information are in the closed and dark rooms.
Metro had various activities on the 28-09-2019, the International day of having access to information in cities of Duhok, Kirkuk and Rapareen administration, as it also conducted a survey among the journalists throughout of Kurdistan, pertaining to the implementation of the right to have access to information.
 Metro center on 28-09-2019, by the presence of Hiwa Qarany, the supervisor of Rapareen administration and Hussein Mhamood, the Mayor of Rania District; along with a number of governmental officials, media-workers, journalists and civil activists, held an activity in Rania Public Library.
The aim of this activity was for further coordination and cooperation of the journalists and official and activating the law of right to have access to information and further facilitation for the media outlets by the official institutions.
  We have reiterated in all our activities and meetings that the freedom to have access to information is one of the rights of human rights, and violating this rights is deemed the violation of human rights. Thus; we deem it necessary to remove the obstacle in front of the journalism work, to be able to have access to the information, and the governmental offices make facilities for the citizens and media-workers to get access to information freely and publish them.


 We Request the Government:


• In the cases pertaining to publication, no security apparatus apart of police have the right to summon the journalist, and this should be made upon the order of a judge.
• The reports of local and international NGO’s advocating the rights of journalists and human rights, which are related to the violation be taken into consideration by the Government and the parliament, instead of turning them down or answering them, and work on the end of dereliction of the executive institutions.
• The judicial authority, judicial council and public prosecution, have to play their roles in the protection of the rule of law; and putting on trial those who violate and breach the rights of journalist, end the impunity of the killers and criminal.


 We Request the Media Outlets:


• Abide by to audit the release and publish of true and accurate news.
• Abide by to publish the answer of those who have been affected with the damage by publishing the news and reports.
• Face and fight hate speech and prevent its publication.
• Not to interfere into the private life of persons and do not let it pass on them.
• Do not let the media-workers be a tribune to the libeling and ban it.
• Do not hast to publish in news which might harm or damage the investigation procedures of the courts, until the court have it say.
• Abide by to the rights of the journalists in contract, such as their rights in sick leave, maternity leave and compensating them while they are working during the holidays.
• Keep the gender balance, put in place tight procedures to face and fight against gender harassment.
• Provide equipment and the needs of the journalists, in a way that could protect their lives of any danger.
• Let your acceleration in publishing your news of the incidents and events be based professionalism and neutrality.
• Take auditing and truthfulness into consideration, be far from arising emotion and encouraging people to be distracted.
• Societal peace for yourself and your media outlet is your duty and priority.
• Be careful; do not depict the victims of gender violence survivors to bear the place of this violence.
• In the event of producing a journalistic subject and articles on women and girls it should be in a way that does not affect or devalue their honor and dignity or damage their reputation.
• Do not be a means for propagation for the criminals, and do not publish heartbreaking or violent video, photo or text contents.
• Do not turn the suspected person to a criminal and do not publish its photos or videos.


Violations against Journalists and Media Outlets in 2019 


• In the first evening of the New Year, the security forces in Erbil city at Iskan Street, attacked a team of Speda Channel, which was made of ( Mohammed Shahab, reporter and Mohammed Rauf, the Camerman) this attack took place while this team was covering protest of part of the breadwinners of that street.
• On 03-01- 2019, at the checkpoint of the 70th  Commandment Forces in Sulaymaniyah, each of the outlets of ( Rudaw, KNN, NRT and Arasta Website) were banned to cover the press conference of  Sulaymaniyah Gawran Correction House, Abdulrahman Abubakir, the reporter of KNN stated to the Metro” We went to cover the press conference of  Sulaymaniyah Gawran Correction House, which was displaying and releasing last year’s statistics, but we were banned by the 70th Commandment Forces checkpoint, and told us they had been order by their seniors not to let you in”.
• On 10-01- 2019, during an attack on an activity of a part of the citizen of Qala Deze and supporters of the PKK, Hamad Hassan, the reporter of Roj News Agency, came under attack of the Asaish( Security) forces and his journalist equipment was confiscated, after erasing his photos and videos of the beginning of the event,  he was later given back his journalistic equipment.
• On 10-01-2018, the freelancer journalist (Omar Chawshin) was banned and menaced by senior officers to prepare a journalistic report.
• On 26-01- 2019, while covering the issues of the students with the checkpoint in Soran District, the camera and mobile phone of  Gali Kurdistan reporter was confiscated by the forces at this checkpoint.
• On 26- 01- 2019, the security forces in Duhok attacked the NRT channel team in front of Duhok Emergency Hospital, while covering the news of the wounded people of Shiladeze demonstration, at the same day four teams of the NRT in Duhok and Shiladeze apprehended and later released at different times.
• On 26-01-2019 , a part of the residents of Shila Dize sub-district organized a demonstration in protest of the Turkish Army bombardments, then attacking a barrack of the Turkish Army and occupied it, the demonstrators set ablaze on some automobiles and equipment. 
• Following that incident, the security forces arrested some activists and demonstration organizers, among them there was some journalists arrested under the pretext of “Inciting” people for demonstration, who were:
 Guhdar Zebari, Sagvan Barwari, Mihvan Barashi, Bulbul Abdulla, Bayar Amedi, Nechervan Barwari ( Bahdinan Sat).
 Karwan Sadeq ( Gali Kurdistan)
 Amad Brifkani ( Payam Channel)
Sherwan Sherwani, Safar Haji, Omed Haji, Dlovan Zebari, Mustafa Bamarni, Rekan Kalakchi, Mohammed Musheer, Ayaz Karam, Dashty Nerwayee ( Payam Channel)
Chayee Belizani, Tayf Goran (NRT)
Ayhan Saeed (Responsible of Metro Center in Duhok Governorate)
Bryar Neroye ,Nihda Oramary  Bewar Hilmi, Adil Sabri, Omar Fazil( NRT)
Lutfi Doski ( Bahdinan Sat)
Mustafa Salih, Sherwan Sherwani, Omed Haji, Dlovan Zebari, Safar Haji, Omed Haji, Dlovan Zebari, Rekan Kalakchi, Mohammed musheer and Ayaz Karam ( Independent).
• On 27-01- 2019, a security force shutdown the office of NRT channel in Duhok.
• On 27-01- 2019,  while covering the demonstration of Shiladeze sub-district and Duhok city, the security forces four teams of the NRT channel were apprehended, then later were released at different time.
• On 27-01-2019, the journalistic team of the Roj News Agency was banned to cover the demonstrations against the Turkish incursions into Kurdistan Region.
• On 28-01- 2019,  the automobile of Farhan Hamakhan, the reporter of Gali Kurdistan was set ablaze and burned by some unknown people, Farhan stated that his car was set on fire by a jerry can of benzene in front of his house, then he later lodged a legal case on that.


February
•   On 05-02- 2019 during the press conference of the KDP’s spokesperson in Erbil city, the NRT channel’s team was ( Hersh Qadir and Najmaddin Sedeq) were banned to cover this press conference.
• On 12-02- 2019, for the purpose of covering the spread of gas in Sulaymaniyah pediatric hospital, the security forces banned the NRT team to cover this news, and their equipment were confiscated. Ihsan Sabir, the report of the NRT channel, sated to the Metro” with my cameraman ( Bryar Karim) we went to cover the news of the spread of gas at  Sulaymaniyah pediatric hospital, and I had received statements of some citizen, then the police evicted us from the hospital”. He also added” While we were coming out of the hospital; a platoon of Asaish (security) confiscated our equipment (Microphone and Camera) and excused us that they are carrying out their duties”.
• On 17-02- 2019, while covering the anniversary of February 17 demonstrations, the security forces banned the NRT team to cover it and confiscated their journalistic equipment.
• On 18-02- 2019, during the meeting of Kurdistan Parliament in Erbil, three teams of the NRT channel were banned to cover this meeting of Parliament, the teams made of ( Hersh Qadi, Arshad Shwan, Bashda Hussein, Bryar Mhammed, Renas Ali and Akam Faris).
• On 20-02- 2019 in front of the PUK Politburo Headquarter in Sulayamaniyah, while in live coverage, the report of K24 ( Dyar Jamal) was stopped to do the live coverage by some guards of the PUK Politburo Headquarter in Sulayamaniyah.
• On 20-02- 2019, during a gathering to free the arrested people who had been arrested during Shiladeze demonstration, nine volunteers of the New Generation were arrested in Duhok, meanwhile during the covering of this news, the reporter of NRT channel ( Tayf Goran) was arrested.
• On 22-02- 2019, after the release of a report on the governor of Kirkuk, both journalists ( Hazhar Kakayee & Mohammed Jabbari) were summoned by a security agency and menaced them and revoked their journalist batches.


March
• On 02-03- 2019, each of  ( Abdulrahman Abubakir, the presented of Debade Village by Village, Rawa Ahmed and Sarkawt Karim Cameramen and Hardi Atta, the driver) were apprehended by the PMU in Khanaqin district while they were preparing this program, then after 24 hours released.
• On 03- 03-2019, under the pretext of lack of license and permission to work, it was decided to shutdown NRT3 channel by the Ministry of Culture of Kurdistan Region.
• On 03-03- 2019, NRT channel was jammed by an unknown source.
• On 04-03- 2019, while arresting the Head of the New General Movement, in front of Sulaymaniyah court, two team of NRT channel were banned to cover it, which was made of ( Zhala Mohammed, Zanko Taha, Bzhar Dabbagh, and Jalal Rahman) and journalist equipment were confiscated.
• On 04-03- 2019, while signing the agreement between the PUK & KDP, 13 media outlets were banned to cover it ( Hesrh Qadir, Akar Faris, Waleem Saleem, Hemin Hussein, Aram Borra, Shawkat Qadir, Bryar Mohammed, Ahmed Shali, Abdulmajeed Zebari, Salih Harki, Khalid Mohammed, Narin Rostan, Arshad Shwani) they were not allowed to cover this agreement.
• On 06-03- 2019, during AUIS Sulaymaniyah Forum, the guards of this university prevented and banned 10 media channels to cover this event.
• On 09-03-2019, a team of the NRT channel between Shingal and Talaafar districts in Mosul governorate were arrested by armed forces then released after 2 hours.
• On 18-03- 2019, while covering the bombardments of the Turkish forces into Sidakan area, Zuber Bradosty, the reporter of Roj News Agency was apprehended.
• On 02-04- 2019, a team of the NRT channel were banned to cover the overflow of Dukan Dam Bell Mouth, by a team of security forces of Dukan District.
• On 03-04-2019, during Erbil International Book Fair, a team of the NRT channel were banned by the guards of the Book Fair, and the team were made of ( Hersh Qadir and Goran Abdulkhaliq).
• On 15-04- 2019, during the demonstration of the top ten graduates of universities and institutes in front of the Council of Ministers in Erbil, , a team of the NRT channel  made of ( Hersh Qadir and Goran Abdulkhaliq) were  banned to cover the demonstration.
• On 23-04- 2019, in Kirkuk city, each of the journalists ( Soran Dawdi, Hardi Mohammed, Aso Ahmed, Karwan Salhi, Khabat Najamaddin and Chya Rozhbayani) were banned by the security forces of Kirkuk to carry out their journalistic work.
• On 24-04- 2019, the security forces of Takya sub-district banned ( Wrya Hamakarim) to prepare Besoragh (unaccounted for) program for the NRT channel, and he was apprehended by the police.
• On 24-04-2019, during the pharmacology festival at Sulaimani University, the K24, Anadolu, Zagross, Bas News, Kirkuk TV, Nawa Radio, NRT and War TV) were banned to cover this festival.
• On 01-05- 2019, for the purpose of recording journalistic program by the host of the program, the reporter was disrespected by ( Ilham Khalid and Camera Crew Hevi Khalid and Karwan Kakail) from the Yella Kurd Website.
• On 04-05- 2019, during reading the will of the judge Goran by his family at Nawroz Park in Duhok, a security force banned the NRT channel cameraman ( Mohammed Omar) to cover this, and he was arrested for one hour.
• On 05-05- 2019, during the coverage of signing agreement between the PUK and KDP parties at the PUK’s politburo headquarter in Sulaymaniyah, each of the  ( Iraqia, KNN, NRT, Biladi, Bas News, Dwarozh, Speda, Payam. Zagros, Nas Kurd and Sharqya) to cover this political agreement.
• On 14-05- 2019, during the coverage of the incidents of Palkana village, the reporter of Kirkuk Now Website ( Karwan Salih) was arrested by a force of Iraqi Army.
• On 14-05- 2019, during the Break of the Fast Feast at  Sulaimani University, the report of Payam channel ( Jalal Mohammed) was not allowed to cover this Feast of Break of the Fast .
• On 14-05- 2019, during the coverage of the incidents of Palkana village, a team of the NRT channel made of ( Aso Ahmed and Hawta Bahroz) were disrespected by a security force, then tortured and their journalistic equipment were confiscated and apprehended for a while.
• On 16-05- 2019, based on the complain of two officers of the directorate traffic of Chamchamal, outside of the law of journalism work, each of Ari Luqman the reporter and Hemin Ahmed, the cameraman of the KNN were kept in custody for three days.
• On 24-05- 2019, both the NRT 1 and NRT 2 were jammed by an unknown sources.
• On 09-06- 2019, during the ceremony of taking oath of the President of the Region at the Saad Abdullah, Convention Hall, the Roj News Agency were banned and prevented to cover this ceremony.
• On 10-06- 2019, during the ceremony of taking oath of the President of the Region at the Saad Abdullah, Convention Hall, a number of media outlets were banned to cover this ceremony.
• On 10-06- 2019, at a press conference in front of the Public Garden of Sulaymaniyah city, a security forces banned some media channels to cover this conference.
• On 11-06- 2019, during the coverage of the fire blaze of an oil pipe on the Sulaymaniyah- Kirkuk road, a security forces banned the NRT team to cover it and their equipment was confiscated.
• On 24-06-2019, during preparing a report on lack of services in the residential projects in Qualraysi in Sulaymaniyah city, some unknown people introduced themselves as official of the project, attach a team of Speda channel made of ( Bestun Mohammed & Aryan Bakir) and banned from this report.
• On 02- 07-2019, for the purpose of preparing a report on the conditions of women in Kalar District, a team of Aryan TV was banned by the Asaish ( Security) checkpoint of north, and did not allow them to enter Kalar District and forced to return to Sulaymaniyah.
• On 04- 07-2019, a team of K24 is banned by the guards of Sulaymaniyah City Council, the team was made of ( Hawkar Yassin & Warzer Aziz) and not allowed to enter the building of Sulaymaniyah Provincial Council, for the purpose of preparing a journalistic report, despite of having a permission.
• On 06-07-2019, due to preparing a journalistic report on a personality who is the chieftain of a tribe which talks on the days of being mercenary during the Baath regime, the journalist ( Zanko Burha) was  menaced to death by one of the entourages and close of this chieftain.
• On 09- 07-2019, while taking photos of the mourning of member of the PKK leadership, the journalist ( Zimnako Isamel ) was arrested for a while and journalistic equipment was confiscated.
• On 10-07-2019, during the ceremony of taking oath by the Prime Minister and His Deputy at the Kurdistan Parliament, Roj News Agency was banned to cover this ceremony.
• On 16-07- 2019, for the purpose of preparing a social program in Arbat sub-district, the guards of the Arabt Camp prevent and ban the team of Chatr Company for Media ( Soma Khalid and Soma Aziz) and were not allowed to enter the camp.
• On 18- 07- 2019, during the coverage of shooting and firing the deputy head of Turkish consul in Erbil city, a security forces introduced themselves as a counter-terrorism force, attacked ( Ahmed Zawety) the responsible of Aljazeera channel in Erbil, and was not allowed to cover this incident.
• On 23-07- 2019, the guards in front of Sulaymaniyah provincial council , prevent a team of the K24 team, which is made of  ( Aram Bakhtyar & Barham Jamal) and were not allowed to enter the building despite having permission for a journalist report.
• On 25-07-2019, a security forces, apprehend ( Zuber Bradosty) the report of Roj News Agency.
• On 29-07- 2019, during the coverage of assigning ceremony of the Yezidi Emir in Lalish, a team of Chra TV channel was banned to cover this event.
• On 15-08-2019, some unknown people fired a barrage of fired to the house of the KTV journalist ( Fazil Omar) at the Grda Spyan village within Pishdar county.
• On 16-08-2019, the Roj News Agency stated that Asaish (Security) did not allow to commemorate the martyred journalist ( Widad Hussein) in Sulaymaniyah.
• On 20-08-2019, for the purpose of covering a press conference in the headquarter of the 70th Forces Commandment in Sulaymaniyah, they banned these media outlets to cover it ( KNN, Payam, NRT, Kurdistan TV, Dwarozh Website and SNN).
• On 21-08-2019, the reporter of Hawler Agency ( Bryar Mohammed) was apprehended by the security forces.
• On 22-08-2019, the reporter of NRT (Khalid Mohammed) was not allowed by the guards to prepare a report on Ashty sub-district which is affiliate to Koya District.
• On 28-08-2019, while covering an engineering team of the New Generation Movement, the security forces apprehended the reporter of NRT ( Ayub Ali) and his journalistic equipment was confiscated.
• On 28-08-2019, while covering the renovation of Soran District entrance, a security team banned an NRT team which was made of ( Hersh Qadir & Hassan Mawlud) to do their journalistic work.
• On 29-08-2019, during the coverage of the burning a number of warehouses in Erbil, a security forces banned the NRT team which was made of ( Hersh Qadir and Goran Abdulkhaliq) to cover this incident.
• On 09-09- 2019, a number of the unknown people attached the main office of Westga News Website and entered into the room of the editor-in-chief and searched for something known, then checked the computer of the editor-in-chief and this case is in the Sara Police station for the investigation.
• On 02-10-2019, for the purpose of preparing a journalistic program at Hero sub-district of Raparaeen administration, under the pretext of not having permission and license, the report of Runahi TV (Aras Ibrahim) was banned to prepare this program.
• On 11-10-2019, while covering the demonstrations to for supporting Rojava, some human rights activists affronted and disrespected the K24 reporter ( Hazha Ghafour) and not allowed to get statement from the demonstrators.
• On 21-10-2019, the security forces in Sulaymaniyah, banned a journalistic team of Chatr Company which was made of ( Zania Bahadin & Jihan Irfan) to prepare a program in the downtown.
• On 27-10-2019, during the meeting of the President of Kurdistan Region & Islamic Group’s Leader, in Erbil, a team of the NRT which was made of ( Hersh Qadir & Goran Abdulkhaliq) were not allowed to cover this meeting.
• On 28-11-2019, during the live coverage, the security forces of Kirkuk banned the K24 channel.
• On 07-12-2019, during the coverage of an explosion in Kirkuk city, the security forces prevented and banned the K 24 reporter (Hemin Dalo) to cover the news of this incident.
• On 17-12-2019, during the first grade football teams games play between Sayedsadeq and Khak, at the hanadare statudium, each of these media outlets ( Speda, Kurdsat, Payam, Gali Kudistan, Kurdistan TV, NRT and Dwarozh) teams to cover this game.