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Contribution to discussion on failings of
Kurdish press law
8.5.2007
By Ferhad Murasil
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May 8, 2007
IWPR was invited by The European Center for Kurdish
Studies in Berlin to deliver a speech about the
draft of the Kurdish press law and its shortcomings
in a conference to commemorate the 109th anniversary
of the first Kurdish newspaper.
The conference brought together about 180
journalists, media experts and lecturers from Iraqi
Kurdistan, Syria, Turkey, Europe, the United States
and Canada.
In the last session of the conference held on April
21-22 that focused on the Iraqi Kurdistan
journalistic scene, I outlined the weaknesses of the
Kurdish press law, pointing out how the legislation
limits Kurdish journalistic freedom.
I pointed out that one of the main problems with the
draft is that it is imprecise, in particular over
the reporting of security issues and subjects deemed
to undermine personal freedoms and public
traditions.
IWPR is the only organisation that has provided
on-the-ground journalism training in Iraq since the
fall of Saddam in April 2003. The main office was
based in Baghdad but later, in 2004, it moved to the
northern province of Sulaimaniyah for security
reasons.
There, we started training Kurdish reporters and the
staff of party-sponsored and private-funded
newspapers in the region. Reporters from other parts
of Iraq continued to attend its courses. Many of our
trainees are now employed by the most important
newspapers in the region, namely Awene, Hawlati and
Aso.
IWPR’s contribution to the conference was vital as
we are considered an independent monitor of press
issues, especially the status of freedom of
expression and transparency in the region.
People from other parts of Kurdistan and abroad who
had no clear idea about the status of media in Iraqi
Kurdistan acquired an important insight into how
reporters cope with local press restrictions.
Eva Slavsberg, president of the European Center for
Kurdish Studies, thanked IWPR for the presentation,
which she said deserved to go on longer than the
allotted time.
It’s not an easy matter testifying about the state
of the media your own country - particularly when
press violations are taking place in your own town.
So being able to provide a thorough, objective
account of the conditions for newspapers and
broadcasters is a real achievement for IWPR’s local
staff.
iwpr net
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