ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan's parliamentary culture committee has reminded Baghdad that regional law takes priority over federal law when there are problems between the two in light of press freedom restrictions issued by the federal government.
The regional parliament responded after the federal government took initiatives to ban Erbil-based Rudaw TV and Kurdistan 24.
“We announce that this decision is contrary to the Iraqi constitution. According to Article 115, in the event of having any legal problems between the Kurdistan Regional Government and federal government, the priority is given to the laws of the Region,” a statement issued by the culture committee in the Kurdish parliament.
The statement is directed to KRG ministry of culture, culture committee in Iraq parliament, international federation of journalists, organization of protecting journalists, and other relevant organizations in Kurdistan, Iraq and abroad.
After his meeting with the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider Abadi blamed Kurdistan media of inciting "war crimes."
"Kurdistan media are inciting attacks on Iraq's federal forces. Attacks on our forces is a war crime," tweeted the government of Iraq of Abadi's remarks.
Iraq’s Media and Communications Commission sent a directive last week to the country’s armed forces, intelligence and other government institutions to stop Rudaw television and its crew from broadcasting or carrying out their duties as journalists.
Rudaw Media Network described this move by the Iraqi media commission as illegal.
International press freedom organizations including The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have condemned the order by the Iraqi government.