Channel 8 Says KRG Interior Ministry Issued Arrest Warrants for Board Chairman and Presenter

Peregraf — Channel 8 said arrest warrants have been issued for its board chairman and one of its television presenters under the Kurdistan Region’s Law on the Misuse of Communication Devices, according to official documents cited by the broadcaster.

The channel reported that the warrants target Ahmed Najm, chairman of Channel 8’s board of directors, and Bzhar Dabbagh, a presenter at the station.

According to Channel 8, a television network associated with PUK President Bafel Talabani, the arrest warrants were issued through a document signed by KRG Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed on May 7, 2026.

The document, numbered 13175 and addressed to the General Directorates of the Internal Security Forces, reportedly orders the arrest of Ahmed Najmedin Ibrahim Talabani and Bzhar Ali Anwar Afrasiab Dabbagh under Article 2 of the Law on the Misuse of Communication Devices and their transfer to the Erbil Investigation Court.

Channel 8 said details regarding the plaintiff, the specific allegations, and the circumstances behind the case have not yet been made public.

Region-Wide Enforcement Order

According to the channel, a second document was issued on May 18 by the General Directorate of Police in the Kurdistan Region and signed by Major General Tariq Ahmed, the director general of police.

The document was reportedly distributed to police directorates in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja, as well as the administrations of Zakho, Raparin, Garmian, Soran, and Akre.

Channel 8 said the order instructed security forces across the Kurdistan Region to enforce the warrants, making them applicable throughout the region.

Concerns Over Press Freedom

The case comes amid ongoing debate over the use of the Law on the Misuse of Communication Devices in cases involving journalists, media outlets, activists, and public figures in the Kurdistan Region.

Press freedom organizations have repeatedly criticized the use of criminal statutes, including the communications law, in cases involving media work, arguing that disputes related to journalism should be addressed through the Kurdistan Region’s Press Law rather than criminal legislation.

At the time of publication, neither the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Interior nor judicial authorities had publicly commented on the details of the case cited by Channel 8.