February 23rd, 2026: Metro Center rejects the threats against journalist Dilshad Mam Taha. Metro also called on the Kurdistan Regional Court of Appeal to review the decision of Koya Court, and called on the Journalism Law to be used in matters related to publication.

Journalist Dilshad Mam Taha, a member of the Kurdistan’s Journalists’ Syndicate appeared in his first trial on November 22nd, 2021 on a complaint filed by Koya Hospital.

On February 19th, 2024, on the complaint of the Koya General Directorate of Health, the Koya court sentenced him to six months in prison for "false news and defamation”.

"It was because of a video that a patient's family sent me and I published it. The video talks about the lack of health services in the hospital. The court decision was made without my presence," Dilshad Mam Taha told Metro Center. "The reason for my absence was that I was not in Kurdistan, but I attended one meeting," he said.

Despite the court's decision, the journalist has received several voicemail threats which are being protected by Metro Center.

Metro Center is not against a citizen or an official institution taking recourse to the courts in case of problems with journalists. However, the journalist was charged under the Misuse of Electronic Devices Act, not the Journalism Act, aimed at his imprisonment.

Publishing cases have their own nature, that’s why since 2007 they have had their own laws. However, despite the law, the Kurdistan Regional Courts still investigate and sentence journalists in cases involving journalists under the Iraqi Penal Code and other laws.