AMED - Demanding the release of journalist Süleyman Ahmet, who was detained by the KDP security forces and has not been heard from for 48 days, DFG CoChair Serdar Altan said: "International press professional organizations should show sensitivity on this issue."

 

There has been no news from Rojnews' Arabic service editor Süleyman Ahmet, who was detained by KDP forces at the Pêşxabûr (Sêmalka) Border Gate on October 25, while returning to Southern Kurdistan from Northern and Eastern Syria, where he went to visit his family, for 48 days. Neriman Ahmet, one of his lawyers, said that 6 days after his detention, the Duhok Public Order, which claimed that Ahmet had nothing to do with journalism, prevented them from meeting with their client on the grounds that the investigation was continuing, and that they learned that the file was under the control of Parastin, the intelligence agency of the KDP. Although the Süleyman Ahmet Defense Group, formed by lawyers, has made more than 10 applications so far, they have not been allowed to meet with Ahmet, and no information has been shared by KDP officials.

 

The detention, arrest and pressure on Free Press journalists in the region came to the fore again with Ahmet. Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) CoChair Serdar Altan, who was the Hewlêr Representative of the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was closed by the Decree Law (KHK), evaluated the situation of journalist Ahmet.

 

WHY ARE JOURNALISTS UNDER PRESSURE?

 

Stating that what is happening in the region is not wanted to be reflected to the public, Altan said: “Journalists are being put under pressure because the problems in Southern Kurdistan are not wanted to be known to both the Kurdish and world public opinion. Those who want to express their thoughts and expressions are wanted to be neutralized in some way. An example of this is the Süleyman Ahmet incident. Our friends who lost their lives there, are in prison, and have investigations and lawsuits filed against them are examples of this. It is not wanted to raise opposition voices or organize opposition. This prevents the formation of a democratic system. Kurds have suffered greatly from oppressive regimes for centuries. Fascist governments oppress the Kurds and do not want their voices to be heard. Now, we are talking about an administration composed of Kurds or Kurdish political parties, but we are faced with a similar practice. This actually clearly reveals where the Kurds should be. We do not accept this, both as journalists and as Kurds."

 

CALL TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

Calling for the necessary environment for journalists to practice their profession, Altan said: "Today, many agencies, television channels and newspapers cannot find a comfortable working environment. For example, they cannot go to Hewlêr, Duhok and Zaxo, which are under the control of the KDP, and work. Under the management of the KDP peshmerga, Journalists are treated as spies and prevented from working. This is not acceptable. We think that journalists should have a comfortable working environment in all areas of Kurdistan. This includes releasing Süleyman Ahmet as soon as possible, allowing journalists there to have a comfortable working environment. We call for the freedom of thought and expression to be reunited and the obstacles to freedom of thought and expression to be removed. The existing calls to find Süleyman Ahmet should be supported and their voices should be added. International press professional organizations should also show sensitivity on this issue."

 

MA / Müjdat Can