NEWS CENTER - There has been no news from Rojnews editor Süleyman Ahmet, who is detained by KDP forces, for 169 days. His colleague Rêbaz Hesen criticized the insufficient reactions to this situation and warned, "If we do not speak out against this unlawfulness, KDP's pressure and threats will increase even more."

 

There has been no news for 169 days from Süleyman Ahmet, the Arabic service editor of the news agency Rojnews. Ahmet is detained by KDP-affiliated units at the Pêşxabûr (Sêmalka) Border Gate while returning to the Federated Kurdistan Region from the city of Aleppo, where he went to visit his family, on October 25, 2023.

 

While it could not be learned where Süleyman Ahmet is being held despite all the applications of the lawyers, Rojnews held KDP responsible for the life and security of its friends in its statement.

 

 

Concerns about the life of Ahmet have increased. His colleague Rêbaz Hesen, a journalist in the Federated Kurdistan Region, called for solidarity. 

 

KDP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE LAWS

 

Stating that KDP does not recognize the laws, journalist Hesen said: "There has been a great resistance and struggle in Southern Kurdistan for years. Great prices were paid in this struggle. This struggle was given to establish a free country and for every Kurd in the world to live freely in this country. But Kurds are not free, Kurdish journalists cannot write and draw freely.”

 

'HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED IN THE PERSON OF AHMET'

 

Stating that they have not heard from their colleague Süleyman Ahmet for 6 months, Hesen said: “Detaining him and not providing any information about his situation is against the law. By law, when a person is detained, he has the right to meet with his lawyers and family. However, despite all their efforts for more than 6 months, the security forces do not allow and prevent the lawyers from meeting with their clients. Today, human rights are being violated in the person of our journalist friend."

 

'JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME'

 

Stating that KDP is trying to illegalize journalism in this way, Hesen said: “No one must remain silent against this injustice. Everyone knows that Ahmet is a journalist. Ahmet worked as a journalist in both Rojava and Bashur. Journalism is not a crime. If they say 'journalism is a crime', they must clarify this crime. If he has a crime, they must let the lawyer meet and find out what his crime is."

 

'THIS ATTITUDE IS A THREAT TO JOURNALISM'

 

Journalist Hesen underlined that the KDP's attitude towards Süleyman Ahmet is a threat to journalism and said: “Without a doubt, every journalist who practices journalism here and every individual who criticizes the KDP government is selected as a target. Today, there are criticisms of this attitude of the KDP around the world. There is freedom in our country, but they detainee journalists. Kurds resisted with a common fight against ISIS in Bashur and Rojava. Today, Kurds are known in the world as a democratic and liberal people. However, today a Kurdish government detainee a Kurdish journalist and does not give information about his life and does not allow him to meet with his lawyers. We want to hear from Ahmet. This attitude of KDP is a threat to journalism.”

 

REACTIONS ARE INSUFFICIENT!

 

Criticizing that the reactions to Ahmet's detention are insufficient even though journalism itself is under threat, Hesen said: “Journalists are not free in Bashur Kurdistan. Journalists are still being arrested today. However, they are not abandoned due to lack of response. Journalists' voices must be louder. Our call to all journalists, politicians, activists and democratic segments; Raise your voice against this lawlessness. If we do not speak out, KDP's pressure and threats will increase even more." 

 

MA / ZEYNEP DURGUT