Iraq: April '07
Contribution to discussion on failings of Kurdish press law.
Iraq: April '07
Contribution to discussion on failings of Kurdish press law.
IWPR was invited by The European Center for Kurdish Studies in Berlin to deliver a speech about the draft of the Kurdish press law and its shortcomings in a conference to commemorate the 109th anniversary of the first Kurdish newspaper.
The conference brought together about 180 journalists, media experts and lecturers from Iraqi Kurdistan, Syria, Turkey, Europe, the United States and Canada.
In the last session of the conference held on April 21-22 that focused on the Iraqi Kurdistan journalistic scene, I outlined the weaknesses of the Kurdish press law, pointing out how the legislation limits Kurdish journalistic freedom.
I pointed out that one of the main problems with the draft is that it is imprecise, in particular over the reporting of security issues and subjects deemed to undermine personal freedoms and public traditions.
IWPR is the only organisation that has provided on-the-ground journalism training in Iraq since the fall of Saddam in April 2003. The main office was based in Baghdad but later, in 2004, it moved to the northern province of Sulaimaniyah for security reasons. There, we started training Kurdish reporters and the staff of party-sponsored and private-funded newspapers in the region. Reporters from other parts of Iraq continued to attend its courses. Many of our trainees are now employed by the most important newspapers in the region, namely Awene, Hawlati and Aso.
IWPR’s contribution to the conference was vital as we are considered an independent monitor of press issues, especially the status of freedom of expression and transparency in the region.
People from other parts of Kurdistan and abroad who had no clear idea about the status of media in Iraqi Kurdistan acquired an important insight into how reporters cope with local press restrictions.
Eva Slavsberg, president of the European Center for Kurdish Studies, thanked IWPR for the presentation, which she said deserved to go on longer than the allotted time.
It’s not an easy matter testifying about the state of the media your own country - particularly when press violations are taking place in your own town. So being able to provide a thorough, objective account of the conditions for newspapers and broadcasters is a real achievement for IWPR’s local staff.
