MPs call for answers from Interior Ministry on journalist, activist detentions

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Sixteen members of the Kurdistan Region's parliament have called for the Minister of Interior Reber Ahmed to attend a parliamentary session to discuss the detention of journalists and activists in Erbil and Duhok.

"As per article 66 part one of the parliamentary bylaws, we meeting the quorum, ask your that the topic of detainment of journalists and activists in Erbil and Duhok provinces be put in the plans, and ask that the Minister of Interior be invited for that parliamentary session," read a letter directed to the parliament’s presidency by 16 MPs on Monday.  

The request was signed by seven members of the Change (Gorran) party, six members of Kurdistan Islamic Union party, one member from both Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal)  and New Generation, and one independent member.

The letter follows the detention of multiple Kurdish journalists and activists in Erbil and Duhok provinces. 

Several activists and journalists were arrested during protests against the delay of public sector salaries in Duhok in May.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has previously hit out at the Kurdistan Regional Government  (KRG) for the arrests of journalist across the Kurdistan Region. 

Journalist Guhdar Zebari was arrested in Akre on October 27 and taken to an unknown location after receiving threatening messages, the CPJ reported. 

“If the Kurdish regional government seeks to operate under the rule of law, they cannot make journalists disappear on a whim," the CPJ said following the arrest of journalist Sherwan Amin Shewani on October 7.

"The request is legal and according to the bylaws, therefore it should be accepted," Change (Gorran) parliament member Ali Hama Saleh told Rudaw.

"The reason behind this request is clear and we want to know on what grounds are these journalists and activists detained," he added.

"This was our response to the families of the detained, and as MPs, it is our duty to respond to their requests."

Rudaw English tried to contact all three members of the parliament presidency, who were unable to be reached.