Press Release Regarding Student Protests

CPT Iraqi Kurdistan team calls on the KRG authorities to release the detained journalists and protesters immediately.
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Hundreds of people gather in the street, many wearing backpacks. Tear gas plumes in the distance.
Student protests in Sulaimani

This past week, students in cities throughout Iraqi Kurdistan gathered peacefully to ask the government to pay them the student allowance that was cut in 2014 due to the economic crisis. 

Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons and violent arrests. Young people are angry because they feel ignored by the government and because of the violence with which the security forces responded to their requests. Holding demonstrations and covering them should not be criminalized.

According to CPT sources, at least 91 student demonstrators from Sulaimani and Erbil have been arrested from 21 – 24 November. Their family members do not know where they are being held or in what condition.

During protests in Sulaimani on 24 November, four journalists, Abas Mohamad from Al-Ashraq, Razhan Majid from Al-Bagdadia, Berhem Latef and Brwa Assad from Roj news agencies, were arrested by an unknown security force.

CPT Iraqi Kurdistan team calls on the KRG authorities to release the detained journalists and protesters immediately.

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Septermber Supper Fundraiser

Will you host a dinner party for CPT?

CPT really needs your support in raising $10k in September. Unfortunately, we are behind our financial targets and need your help. We want to dedicate the month of September to bringing people together around the dinner table. You can choose the date, who you invite and what you cook (though our teams have some great recipes prepared!) We’d love to hear if you’d be interested. 

There’s no commitment needed at this stage.

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