182 Violations Against Journalists Recorded in Kurdistan Region in 2024: Metro Center

Peregraf

The Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy has published its annual report detailing violations against journalists and media organizations in the Kurdistan Region. According to the report, there were 182 violations affecting 176 journalists and media outlets throughout 2024. This represents a 27% reduction compared to the 249 violations recorded in 2023. The violations reported in 2024 encompassed:

Drone killings: 3 cases (carried out by Turkey).

Arrests without a judge’s order: 24 cases.

Confiscation of journalistic property: 17 cases.

Assault, beating, and threats: 27 cases.

Obstruction of journalistic coverage: 103 cases.

Cyberattacks: 6 cases.

Breaking journalistic property: 2 cases.

Despite the reduction in violations, concerns persist regarding the safety and freedom of journalists in the Kurdistan region. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) highlighted that, in 2024, the Kurdistan Journalists’ Syndicate (KJS) documented 45 cases of media and journalists’ rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, media coverage bans, attacks against journalists, and confiscation of media equipment.

In comparison, the Metro Center's 2022 report recorded 431 violations against 301 journalists and media outlets, indicating a significant decrease in violations over the past two years.

While the downward trend in reported violations is a positive development, the ongoing incidents underscore the need for continued efforts to protect press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists in the Kurdistan Region.