While the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has received much praise and attention as an oasis of peace and economic prosperity, particularly in contrast to an Iraq blighted by turmoil, one of the criticisms has been a lack of a fully liberal press.

Although a blossoming media has been witnessed in a relatively short period, with hundreds of publications in circulation at the present time, certain obstacles have tainted what is in essence a remarkable turna­round from the highly repressed state of the media un­der Baathist rule.

Reports on the state of journalism in Kurdistan have often criticized the government for harassment, de­tainment, and even physical abuse of journalists. Some widely reported cases have somewhat tarnished the overall image of the press. The government has been criticised for applying press laws from the Saddam era and for the general lack of independent publications. 

At the present time, most of the funding for the press is provided by political entities and the regional gov­ernment. With a lack of alternatives for funding, pub­lications are often under the de-facto hegemony of the government.

In recent developments, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), after conducting a fact-finding mis­sion, called on the Kurdistan Region leadership to immediately adopt a number of recommendations. In essence, it called for public condemnation of acts of violence or intimidation, the end of detainment of jour­nalists, to eradicate cases of threats and interference and ensure proposed KRG press laws abide by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, where Iraq is a state party.

The recommendations also called for the suspension of the penal code that criminalizes defamation, insult, slander, and the publication of “false” information.

The suggestions by the CPJ were designed to press the Kurdish government not to pass or sign into law any bill that contains aforementioned measures or that may contravene established international press stand­ards.

Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani wel­comed the report by the CPJ. While acknowledging shortcomings, he highlighted the progress toward “greater liberties” and the ongoing evolution “…to­ward complete freedom.”

While acknowledging the government’s role in facili­tating a free press, he reiterated the importance of clear guidelines which the new bill, currently under discus­sion by the Kurdistan National Assembly, must serve to journalists and the responsibility of journalists on their part in ensuring a high level of professionalism, ethics, and also understanding and respect of the cli­mate in which they write.

Clearly, while it is easy to blame the government, the overall standard of reporting also requires focus.

Journalism has come a long way in Kurdistan, but the progression toward a Western-style press, particularly in the volatile Middle Eastern sociopolitical climate, will undoubtedly take time.

In conclusion, CPJ representatives credited the Kurdistan Region for taking positive steps toward es­tablishing greater freedoms.

First Published On: Kurdish Globe

Other Publication Sources: Peyamner, Various Misc.