ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An organization dedicated to defending press freedom globally denounced on Monday the suspension of Rudaw Media Network in northeast Syria (Rojava) as it called on authorities to respect media pluralism.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES), also referred to as Rojava, on Saturday suspended the network’s ability to work in all areas of the region as it withdrew Rudaw employees’ licenses, claiming that the outlet spreads hate and misinformation.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the forcible closure of the network, saying the organization “denounces a vague pretext and calls on the authorities to respect media pluralism.”
The network considers the decision to be political and a violation to the freedom of press.#Syria: after the Iraqi Kurdish channel @RudawEnglish was forcibly closed by the Kurdish Autonomous Administration on the grounds that it had violated the law on the media, @RSF_inter denounces a vague pretext and calls on the authorities to respect media pluralism.
— RSF in English (@RSF_en) February 7, 2022
“Rudaw Media Network considers this a political decision and a crime against freedom of the press in Western Kurdistan. Rudaw Media Network operates very professionally and complies with regulations everywhere. The decision by the Autonomous Administration lacks legal grounds and is coming from thin political and partisan considerations,” it said in a statement following the ban.
Rudaw’s teams have previously repeatedly come under attack in Rojava.
The network’s crew on Wednesday was attacked by unknown assailants in Qamishli while covering the funeral of 12 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), mortally wounded in the over one week-long Islamic State (ISIS) prison-riot in Hasaka which left 121 SDF fighters, prison guards and civilians dead.
The administration also prevented Rudaw from covering the attempted prison break.
Rudaw office in Qamishli has been attacked six times. The Asayish, the internal security forces of Rojava, are yet to hold anyone accountable for the attacks on Rudaw’s offices.
