Metro Centre revealed its statement regarding Chawder center   

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Metro Center for Protection of Journalists and Freedom of Expression’s Coordinator, Rahman Gharib believes the raid on the cultural centers in Sulaimani is a violation of freedom and the freedom of expressions as well as freedom of journalism too.

Gharib stated to Kurdistan 24 on Friday, in an interview “Metro Centre condemns raiding the institutions and cultural centers, those are organizations for cultural, ideologies and freedom of press in Sulaimani and their job is to promote intellectual dialogue and civilization of the city”

On Thursday p.m. (Sulaimani local time), September 5th, 2024, a commando force raided the politician and author, Mala Bakhtiar’s headquarter, Chawder and Galawezh thoughts and Cultural Center in Engineers Hill area in Sulaimani and seized all his belongings in his agency.

Mullah Bakhtiar’s prediction

“Mam Jalal Talabani's sons prevailed over a prepared ground and with a per-planned for” Mala Bakhtiar disclosed “Two years before the PUK’s fourth conference, I felt that the PUK was going towards tyranny, as well as I realized it is slowly, slowly directing towards terminating the beauty and breathing of freedom”

Mala Bakhtiar further disclosed that Mam Jalal Talabani’s sons have taken over the PUK with a pre-planned action, conspiracy and coup.

As he pointed out that he overheard that Bafel Talabani decided to take over his home in Khanaqin and remove Chawder office from his observation.

Independent Human Rights Body

The Independent Human Rights Board expressed its concerns, and stated “the use of security forces is a violation to the principles of freedom, freedom of expression and culture” 

This agency in Kurdistan Region condemned the raid in a written statement, and highlighted that Chawder is an enlightenment and a cultural center.

It also clarified that using a force to raid such center, entering the office under the name of returning its ownership, that conduct is away from legal, judicial and civil actions.

“The way of dealing with such situation is not appropriate; it is a violation to the principles of freedom and freedom of expressions” it stated "we hope the situation returns to the normal and not to lead any further reactions”

It concluded “the reserved personal rights and ownership to be protected, and for everyone to abide by the law, also to let the court decide”

Faraidoon Abdulqadir, a political figure in the region

Abdulqadir stated “Sulaimani has been destroyed by the current PUK leaders, what’s been done to Mala Bakhtiar is a hideous act, a proof that the PUK leaders are disgraceful to their own party members"

This Kurdish politician, Abdulqadir stated further to Kurdistan 24 “the PUK member are not afraid of PUK leaders, the current leaders are silencing the bright thinkers’ voices and the way of thinking”

Faraidoon Abdulqadir thought that PUK shouldn’t have the right to have authority on the customs and banks. He also expects that attacking Mala Bakhtiar will have bad consequences.

He concluded his statement by highlighting more concerns regarding what was done against Mala Bakhtiar “it is either the oblivion by the PUK leaders or an opposition to the PUK in order to be defeated in the parliamentary elections and thus to lose votes”