On Kurdistan Journalism Day, KRG honors media, praises its role in fight against COVID-19

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Senior officials from the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday spoke of the present role of the media on the 122nd anniversary of the publication of the first Kurdish newspaper.

“On this occasion, I find it necessary to thank all of Kurdistan Region’s media institutions for abiding by the health regulations and for their crucial role in publishing health awareness information about the coronavirus for the public,” said Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government. 

In a statement on the KRG website, he also said that, on the anniversary of “the publication of the first Kurdish newspaper titled ‘Kurdistan,’ I extend my warmest congratulations to journalists and media in Kurdistan Region.”

He also marked the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Kurdistan Journalist's Syndicate, saying, “On this day, we salute the visionaries of Kurdistan journalism and those journalists who have sacrificed their lives serving the Kurdish cause and struggle.” 

Regional President Nechirvan Barzani also spoke of the Kurdistan newspaper, first published on April 22, 1898 in the Egyptian capital of Cairo by renowned Kurdish literary figure Miqdad Baderkhan.

“We reiterate our support to journalists and free media,” he continued. “We also expect that journalists live up to their professional and ethical responsibilities,” appearing to indirectly address recent controversy over incidents involving media workers.

In early April, The Metro Center for Defending Journalists’ Rights, a media rights watchdog based in Sulaimani, denounced a recent attack on the residence of a journalist in the Kurdistan Region and what it said was insufficient government efforts to punish those responsible.  

Read More: Kurdistan Region's press freedom watchdog condemns recent attack on journalist

Editing by John J. Catherine