Kurdistan Journalist's Syndicate condemns raid on Chawder Center amid rising political tensions
On Thursday, a commando force stormed the offices of Chawder, a prominent media and intellectual center, confiscating its assets and shutting down its operations.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On Friday, Kudistan's freedom and Journalist's rights advocacy Committee under the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate strongly condemned the recent raid on the Chawder media and intellectual center in Sulaimani, calling it a "serious threat" to freedom of expression and the region’s cultural movement.
On Thursday, a commando force stormed the offices of Chawder, a prominent media and intellectual center, confiscating its assets and shutting down its operations.
The raid has sparked outrage among journalists, intellectuals, and civil society groups, particularly as the Kurdistan Region approaches its parliamentary elections.
The Committee expressed deep concern over the incident, describing the operation as a violation of ethical and legal standards.
"Such behavior against any cultural and media institution poses a direct threat to freedom of expression and the cultural movement of the Kurdish people," the Committee stated in an official release on Friday.
The raid, according to the statement, has caused anxiety and frustration among Sulaimani residents, who are already feeling the strain of political tensions.
The Committee called for an immediate end to such actions and urged authorities to allow media organizations to continue their work without interference. It further emphasized the importance of adhering to Journalism Law No. 35 of 2007, which governs the investigation of media outlets in the Kurdistan Region.
The incident has raised alarms over the state of press freedom in the region.
The Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, alongside various press advocacy groups, has repeatedly called for the protection of media outlets and the rights of journalists to operate freely in the region.
The raid on Chawder Center was also heavily criticized by The Metro Center for Protection of Journalists and Freedom of Expression.
Read More: Metro Centre revealed its statement regarding Chawder center
This latest incident underscores the growing tension between political actors and independent media in the Kurdistan Region, with many fearing that further restrictions on press freedom could undermine democratic processes and erode public trust.
As the region prepares for a critical election, calls for safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring the independence of media institutions are gaining momentum, both locally and internationally.
