Shafaq News / Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate President, Azad Hamad Amin informed Monday, the head of the Federal Government, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, that Kurdish journalists in the disputed areas covered by Article 140 of the Constitution, including the governorate of Kirkuk, were attacked, arrested, underrated and accused of "terrorism" by the dominant security services in those areas, urging him to intervene immediately to stop these violations.

 “I inform you in this memorandum of the nature of the conditions in which the Kurdish journalists live in the disputed areas covered by Article 140 of the Constitution, which are controlled by the Iraqi forces in their different forms.” Noting to “ the great Kurdish journalists role in covering events in the disputed areas, especially with regard to the battles against the Islamic State ISIS terrorist organization since 2014 and their documentation of the victories achieved in these areas,” Amin said in a memo sent to Al-Kadhimi reported to Shafaq News agency.

"The Kurdish journalists worked with complete impartiality in transferring news and events from these regions without distinction between race, religion or sect, and they provided most of their media and press services to all segments and components," pointing to "some journalists have fell as martyrs and injured in order to convey the reality”.

"Kurdish journalists have been subjected for some time to harassment and violations by the security services in the disputed areas, especially in the areas of Kirkuk," noting that "these violations are assault, arrest, belittlement, and accusations of haphazardly appropriation and seizure of journalistic requirements without the presence of a deterrent from the responsible authorities and goodwill gestures to solve the situation. "

"These violations are considered a clear violation of the constitution, Iraqi laws and international regulations related to journalistic work and press freedoms," expressing "deep regret" that Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate recorded "violations documented against our journalists in these areas, in its semi-annual report for 2020, which is in the process of restricting preparation".

He added, "What hurts us more in the nature of some violations, is the issuance of verbal charges of terrorism by members of the security services against the Kurdish journalists who are anxious to carry out journalistic missions in a number of disputed areas."

Head of Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate appealed Al-Kadhimi, to "immediately intervene to stop these violations against our journalists in the disputed areas, especially in areas of Kirkuk," stressing the need to "work to create an appropriate environment for journalistic work without distinguishing between journalists, especially as you are at the beginning of your mission to lead Iraq."

He indicated that he had previously tried, before Al-Kadhimi’s assumption of the premiership, to “stop these violations by talking with the concerned authorities, but we failed in this endeavor,” expressing his hope “to follow up the conditions of the Kurdish journalists in these areas and address the defect in them by applying Iraqi laws and international regulations related to press freedoms.” ".

The Metro Center to defend the rights of journalists accused on May 16th, the commander of the 20^th  Brigade of the Fifth Division of the Federal Police directed verbal insults against Kurdish journalists and leaders of   Kurdistan Region and Peshmerga forces, and he also considered that the security forces deal with Kurdistan Journalists in the areas of Article 140 of comes "from National Chauvini basis, "and called on Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to intervene and conduct an immediate investigation.