Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadin, two Kurdish journalists, were killed in Iraqi Kurdistan after their vehicle was hit by a Turkish drone 23th August 2024. Photo: Jinha Agency
Presented as a stable enclave in a crisis-ridden Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan nevertheless shows contradictory indicators in terms of press freedom. A clear legal framework does not seem to curb the sometimes deadly abuses of power.
By Antoine Carré
From a legal standpoint, the defence has the floor. The Iraqi Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and publication, while Kurdish Press Law No. 35 of 2007 is often cited as one of the most advanced in the country. It prohibits censorship, does not impose prison sentences for press offences, and protects journalists from attacks. The Kurdish authorities regularly highlight this text as proof of their commitment to media pluralism.
Journalists accused of espionage
In practice, the reality is quite different. Human rights organisations describe systematic circumvention of this law. Prosecutions rarely target press legislation itself, but are based on the Iraqi penal code or national security laws. Journalists are charged with defamation, spreading ‘false information’ or undermining state security.
In some cases, the 2003 Espionage Act is invoked, exposing defendants to extremely heavy sentences, sometimes up to life imprisonment. It states: « Whoever intentionally and by any means, be involved in any act with the intention of harming the security, stability and sovereignty of the institutions of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and cause such harm to occur. »
Shall be punished with life imprisonment or with imprisonment for a fixed term.‘ This is the case of Sherwan Sherwani, arrested in 2020 for « espionage » according to the Kurdish judiciary. But since the beginning of his detention, the journalist has had his sentence increased twice. This decision has been condemned by the NGO Reporters Without Borders.
Shna Faiq, an Iraqi Kurdish journalist, pays her respects at the grave of journalist Sardasht Osman, who was murdered in 2010. Photo provided by Shna Faiq.
In 2024, the NGO Metro Centre recorded 182 violations, describing the year as ‘difficult’ despite a decrease compared to 2023: three journalists were killed in drone strikes, and dozens of arrests, physical assaults and obstructions to media coverage were documented. In 2025, the NGO referred to a ‘serious crisis of the rule of law’, marked by a sharp increase in assaults, confiscations of equipment and bans on coverage.
In contrast, the KJS reports 45 violations in 2024 and 46 in 2025, mainly restrictions on access to the field and a few arrests. This discrepancy is due to different counting methods: Metro includes all forms of pressure and proceedings, while the union applies stricter criteria.
Various forms of repression
On the ground, violations take various forms. Arrests during demonstrations, confiscation of cameras and phones, physical violence and the use of tear gas. In court, NGOs and observers denounce summary trials, vague charges and a lack of judicial independence, particularly in cases related to coverage of corruption or social movements.
These practices are part of a highly politicised media landscape. The two major ruling parties, the PDK and the UPK, have their own media outlets, leaving little room for independent media. Attacks on journalists are rarely prosecuted, fuelling a culture of impunity that is regularly denounced by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the CPJ and Reporters Without Borders.
Despite threats from the authorities and social pressure, Shna Faiq has always fought to freely practice her profession in her country. Photo provided by Shna Faiq.
Data for 2024–2025 thus reflect a persistent contradiction. While some official statistics point to an improvement, other reports indicate a marked deterioration. Legally, Iraqi Kurdistan has one of the most protective frameworks in Iraq. But the constant gap between law and practice keeps press freedom in a grey area, largely dependent on political and security balances.