Security forces prevent, break up protests across Kurdistan Region; more than a dozen journalists arrested

06-08-2022 10:33
The security forces faced the demonstrators and used violence in Sulaymaniyah August 8, 2022

PEREGRAF 

Protests called by the New Generation Movement took place in Sulaymaniyah and half a dozen other cities across the Kurdistan Region on Saturday (August 6), resulting in the arrest of dozens of journalists, activists, and members of parliament.

Ahead of the demonstrations, organizers released a list of demands, including that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) pay public sector salaries on time, create job opportunities for more than 500,000 unemployed university graduates and youth, and address problems faced by farmers, pensioners, and businesspeople.

In Sulaymaniyah’s Sara Square, the security forces began firing tear gas just as the demonstration was starting at 5pm. For approximately an hour, police and Asayish used tear gas, rubber baton rounds, pepper balls, and a water cannon to push protesters out of the city’s main bazaar, despite the presence of numerous bystanders including children.

Protesters also gathered in Halabja’s central bazaar, calling for better public services in the city and on-time payment of public sector salaries.

Other protests were held, but dispersed, in Chamchamal, Said Sadiq, Kalar, Qaladze, and Ranya, which are all in areas controlled by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

In cities dominated by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the security forces deployed in force to prevent any demonstrations from congregating at all.

In the Kurdistan Region’s capital Erbil, the security forces heavily restricted movement near the historic Citadel, which New Generation had designated as the site for the protest in the city.

"Even ordinary citizens did not dare take their phones out of their pockets," Peregraf reporter Farman Sadiq. "The security forces were deployed in plainclothes and it was forbidden to talk about demonstrations in the tea houses."

Sadiq reported that there were more than 100 security forces vehicles parked in between the entrance of the bazaar and the front of the Erbil governorate building. He witnessed at least six arrests in the bazaar.

"One of them was a young man. I heard him say that he had done nothing wrong and only wanted to take a video. They threw him into a private bus, which drove away and seemed to be full of detainees."

Helicopters circled the sky in Duhok city, where a protest was planned for Newroz Park. Ahead of the start time, the security forces only allowed families to enter the park, preventing all other people from gathering.

Uniformed and plainclothes security forces also restricted movement and media activity in the Duhok bazaar.

Crackdown on journalists

More than a dozen journalists covering the protests were arrested, including Peregraf reporter Hardi Osman.

Media outlets and watchdogs called for their immediate release and all were released by the following day.

In addition to Osman, nine journalists from NRT, four from Westga News Agency, and one from KNN were arrested, according to statements from their employers.

Journalists who were present at the demonstrations were told by the Asayish to delete photographs and videos that they had taken.

Additionally, the security forces in Erbil prevented a Peregraf reporter from interviewing people on 60-Meter Road about their views regarding the protests, a location nearly 2 kilometers from the planned protest site.

According to local media watchdog the Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy, the crackdown on journalists began several days ago.

In the 24 hours around the protest, at least 70 violations against 52 journalists and media outlets were recorded. There were 21 arrests, four raids on homes, sixteen preventions, five injuries from tear gas, 23 confiscations of journalistic equipment, and one outlet closure.

The authorities also arrested 42 New Generation members including members of the Iraqi parliament and the Kurdistan Parliament, according to the party. Some were later released.