Kurdistan
Speaker of the Kurdistan Region’s parliament Rewaz Fayaq speaking at an event for CDO in Sulaimani on February 12, 2023. Photo: Rudaw/Screengrab
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The speaker of the Kurdistan Region’s parliament on Sunday blamed the judiciary for issues relating to the restriction of freedom of expression in the Region, saying the problem is not with the constitution but rather how the laws are implemented.
The Sulaimani-based Civil Development Organization (CDO) held the “Towards a Better Future for Freedom of Expression in the Kurdistan Region” conference on Sunday, attended by scores of the Region’s parliament members, party representatives, activists, and journalists.
“I hope the judiciary does not take my words as interference, but when it comes to the implementation of the laws, we have a problem with the judicial authority which we should not have,” parliamentary Speaker Rewaz Fayaq said during the conference, adding “we also have a problem with the executive authority as well."
Fayaq stated that although it might be “embarrassing” for a top official to discuss problems of restricting freedom of speech, there is no use in running away from the responsibility and denying the fact that there are issues.
“Journalists should not have a reason to doubt the impartiality of the judiciary, even if I or another political figure files a complaint against them. They must rest assured that their cases will be judged in an unbiased manner, because if they are not sure about that it means we have a problem,” she added.
The parliamentary speaker admitted that some of the Kurdistan Region’s laws are in need of amendment and some areas require completely new laws, but stressed that the laws in the Region are amongst some of the best in the geographical region when it comes to freedom of speech, and that the problem is with the way the judiciary implements them.
“The situation cannot be fixed with denial. We have to say ‘Yes, we have issues.’ Those reports [on violations against freedom of expression], even if they are not completely accurate, they still have a lot of truth in them,” noted Fayaq.
An annual report by US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) in January slammed the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for using “vaguely worded laws to target critics for expressing criticism and opinions they object to,” referring to the arrests of journalists and activists during antigovernment protests in the Kurdistan Region’s cities, mainly Sulaimani.
The KRG responded to the HRW report saying it was a “a regional exemplar for essential democratic elements, including the right of freedom of expression and media.”
The Sulaimani-based Civil Development Organization (CDO) held the “Towards a Better Future for Freedom of Expression in the Kurdistan Region” conference on Sunday, attended by scores of the Region’s parliament members, party representatives, activists, and journalists.
“I hope the judiciary does not take my words as interference, but when it comes to the implementation of the laws, we have a problem with the judicial authority which we should not have,” parliamentary Speaker Rewaz Fayaq said during the conference, adding “we also have a problem with the executive authority as well."
Fayaq stated that although it might be “embarrassing” for a top official to discuss problems of restricting freedom of speech, there is no use in running away from the responsibility and denying the fact that there are issues.
“Journalists should not have a reason to doubt the impartiality of the judiciary, even if I or another political figure files a complaint against them. They must rest assured that their cases will be judged in an unbiased manner, because if they are not sure about that it means we have a problem,” she added.
The parliamentary speaker admitted that some of the Kurdistan Region’s laws are in need of amendment and some areas require completely new laws, but stressed that the laws in the Region are amongst some of the best in the geographical region when it comes to freedom of speech, and that the problem is with the way the judiciary implements them.
“The situation cannot be fixed with denial. We have to say ‘Yes, we have issues.’ Those reports [on violations against freedom of expression], even if they are not completely accurate, they still have a lot of truth in them,” noted Fayaq.
An annual report by US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) in January slammed the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for using “vaguely worded laws to target critics for expressing criticism and opinions they object to,” referring to the arrests of journalists and activists during antigovernment protests in the Kurdistan Region’s cities, mainly Sulaimani.
The KRG responded to the HRW report saying it was a “a regional exemplar for essential democratic elements, including the right of freedom of expression and media.”
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