Family of murdered Kurdish journalist report threats from authorities
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The family of murdered Kurdish journalist Wedad Hussein is afraid for their safety and said that their family members have been under observation and received threats from the authorities following the death of Hussein.
“After all, we, members of Wedad Hussein’s family, are being monitored and also threatened by the authorities of the Kurdistan region which is ruled by a family,” reads a September 4 letter from Hussein’s family, addressed to the UN and the international community.
“All of Wedad’s family are under threat and observed of these criminal and authorities [sic], We are thus afraid that another brother of Wedad may be murdered tomorrow if we are not locally and internationally supported as the governing authorities threats are strong and ruthless. If anything happens to us, the authorities of Duhok should be held accountable.”
The body of 28-year old Hussein was found on August 14 in the village of Seje near Duhok. According to his family he had worked with Roj News, a PKK-affiliated website, until ten days before his death.
There were clear signs of torture on his body.
Hussein had been questioned by Kurdish security forces, the Asayesh, several times because of his alleged affiliation with the PKK, his family told Rudaw.
Duhok security services have denied any connection with Hussein’s murder.
“We have no connection with that incident whatsoever,” a Duhok security official told Rudaw in August. “On the contrary, we are very concerned about what happened because it affects the security situation here.”
The security official, who did not want to be named, urged Hussein’s family to go to the court and file a case against anyone they suspect of killing the journalist.
The family state in their letter that a “law suit has been filed in Duhok court and yet there is little clarification.” They express concern that the details of the torture Hussein suffered are not fully recounted in the forensic report.
The United Nations and rights monitor Human Rights Watch have urged the Kurdistan Regional Government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into Hussein’s death. Both bodies cited concern about a pattern of abuse of journalists in the Kurdistan Region.
“I am deeply disturbed by the killing of this journalist. Such an act appears to be part of a growing pattern of threats, intimidation and violence being directed against journalists and other media professionals in carrying out their duties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Iraq, Gyorgy Busztin, in a statement published by the UN in Iraq (UNAMI) shortly after Hussein’s death.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, described Hussein as “one of dozens of journalists in KRG territory who have been killed, beaten, detained, or harassed.”
“The authorities’ failure to prevent attacks on journalists not only denies them justice, but has a chilling effect on what they can report,” Whitson said. “The authorities should show they are actively and aggressively hunting for the culprits of this crime, and not just promising yet another bottomless investigation.”
Press freedom advocates Reporters Without Borders, which publicized the letter from Hussein’s family, named three other journalists who have been “murdered with impunity” in the Kurdistan Region since 2008: Kawa Germyani, Sardasht Osman, and Soran Hama Mama.
“After all, we, members of Wedad Hussein’s family, are being monitored and also threatened by the authorities of the Kurdistan region which is ruled by a family,” reads a September 4 letter from Hussein’s family, addressed to the UN and the international community.
“All of Wedad’s family are under threat and observed of these criminal and authorities [sic], We are thus afraid that another brother of Wedad may be murdered tomorrow if we are not locally and internationally supported as the governing authorities threats are strong and ruthless. If anything happens to us, the authorities of Duhok should be held accountable.”
The body of 28-year old Hussein was found on August 14 in the village of Seje near Duhok. According to his family he had worked with Roj News, a PKK-affiliated website, until ten days before his death.
There were clear signs of torture on his body.
Hussein had been questioned by Kurdish security forces, the Asayesh, several times because of his alleged affiliation with the PKK, his family told Rudaw.
Duhok security services have denied any connection with Hussein’s murder.
“We have no connection with that incident whatsoever,” a Duhok security official told Rudaw in August. “On the contrary, we are very concerned about what happened because it affects the security situation here.”
The security official, who did not want to be named, urged Hussein’s family to go to the court and file a case against anyone they suspect of killing the journalist.
The family state in their letter that a “law suit has been filed in Duhok court and yet there is little clarification.” They express concern that the details of the torture Hussein suffered are not fully recounted in the forensic report.
The United Nations and rights monitor Human Rights Watch have urged the Kurdistan Regional Government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into Hussein’s death. Both bodies cited concern about a pattern of abuse of journalists in the Kurdistan Region.
“I am deeply disturbed by the killing of this journalist. Such an act appears to be part of a growing pattern of threats, intimidation and violence being directed against journalists and other media professionals in carrying out their duties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Iraq, Gyorgy Busztin, in a statement published by the UN in Iraq (UNAMI) shortly after Hussein’s death.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, described Hussein as “one of dozens of journalists in KRG territory who have been killed, beaten, detained, or harassed.”
“The authorities’ failure to prevent attacks on journalists not only denies them justice, but has a chilling effect on what they can report,” Whitson said. “The authorities should show they are actively and aggressively hunting for the culprits of this crime, and not just promising yet another bottomless investigation.”
Press freedom advocates Reporters Without Borders, which publicized the letter from Hussein’s family, named three other journalists who have been “murdered with impunity” in the Kurdistan Region since 2008: Kawa Germyani, Sardasht Osman, and Soran Hama Mama.