The escalating assault on journalists in the Kurdish Region of Iraq is disturbing. What we are witnessing is not simply “violations” of press rights, but a calculated campaign to silence truth and criminalize dissent.

In July 2025 alone, our team documented nine arrests, one killing, several injuries, and at least eighteen journalists blocked from doing their work.This is not an accident; it is part of a broader strategy to intimidate communities ahead of elections and keep people from exposing injustice.

The trial of journalist Sherwan Sherwani makes this painfully clear. On August 19, they observed a courtroom turned into a theater of repression: military presence, fabricated witnesses, evidence hidden from the defense, and a sentence that blatantly violated legal limits. The Kurdistan Regional Government even tried to buy Sherwan’s silence with an early release deal—proof that their priority is silencing dissent, not justice. Sherwan’s refusal is an act of defiance that should inspire us all.

Let’s be clear: a society without press freedom is a society where corruption, militarism, and authoritarianism thrive. Kurdish journalists are risking everything to shine light on injustice, and they cannot be left to stand alone.

The ongoing peace talks between the PKK and Turkey could result in a transformation of the region, a process in which the media play a crucial role in keeping the public informed. This is possible only when the press has its freedoms guaranteed. On September 6, join our Kurdistan-based team for a webinar for updates about the latest developments in the region.

At CPT, we are committed to amplifying journalists’ voices, exposing every violation, and building solidarity networks strong enough to resist repression. Our team writes, “The ongoing ill-treatment of journalists and activists continues to erode spaces for freedom of speech and expression—fundamental pillars of a democratic society. We call on all human rights institutions, consulates and diplomats, as well as local and international NGOs, to advocate for the dismissal of this unjust trial and ruling.”