On Monday, February 16th, 2026, the Coordinator of Metro Center visited the Independent Human Rights Commission in Erbil to present and discuss the two latest annual reports of (Metro Center and Alliance Network 19) on the situation of press freedom and freedom of expression in the Kurdistan Region in 2025.

The coordinator of Metro Center thanked them for their welcome and continued support.

The Independent Human Rights Commission's statement on the meeting:

The Chairman of the commission received the President of Metro Center and discussed the situation of journalists and freedom of expression.

On Monday, Dr. Muna Yaqo, President of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, accompanied by Faizullah Mohammed, Advisor of the Commission, received Rahman Gharib, Coordinator of Metro Center for the Protection of Journalists.

Both sides stressed the need to protect the rights of journalists and improve their living conditions.

The organizer of Metro Center presented the report on their situation of journalists for 2025 to the chairman of the commission.

In response, she thanked Metro Center for their work on investigating and reporting on the situation of press freedom and violations against journalists.