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Anti-democratic establishment suppresses
freedom of expression in Kurdistan-Iraq
11.1.2011
By Dr. Kirmanj Gundi - ekurd.net |
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January 11, 2011
After the creation of a “Safe Haven” in some parts
of Kurdistan in Iraq in 1992, and the subsequent
establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG) administration, the people of Kurdistan
embraced the Kurdish political parties that at times
had disturbing pasts. People of Kurdistan perceived
this embracement as “national reconciliation” and
the best option for their national interests.
When the KRG was withering under two sanctions (the
UN sanction against Iraq and Saddam Hussein’s
blockade against Kurdistan region) in 1990s, people
in the KRG controlled areas, particularly doctors,
teachers, professors, and other employees continued
to provide their civic services gratis to assist the
Kurdish administration in running its affairs. They
were anticipating a more tranquil and prosperous
future in which democracy and freedom of expression
would flourish—a future in which human dignity would
be protected.
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Dr. Kirmanj Gundi is a professor of Educational
Administration and Leadership at Tennessee State
University |
Before long, the dream
for a democratic society drifted away before the
eyes of the world. The people of Kurdistan found
themselves trapped again—this time not by Saddam
Hussein’s despotic regime, but rather by an
undemocratic Kurdish administration. The two main
political factions, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), soon
dominated every aspect of life. They controlled
presidency, prime ministership, parliament, police,
security, judiciary, media, and other compartments
of the KRG government.
However, in the wake of this development in
Kurdistan, unprecedented independent media outlets
such as newspapers, blogs, and digital
media/websites came into existence. These
independent and free outlets have been very active
in promoting democracy and scrutinizing government
policies and behavior towards people. Soon, it was
realized that a free press and freedom of speech was
not going to be tolerated by the KRG establishment,
especially by the KDP leadership. Occasionally,
independent journalists were warned by the KDP
officials. Sometimes, the KDP president, Mr. Massoud
Barzani himself reminded independent journalists
that their activities could not be tolerated. A
handful of journalists resisted the KDP pressure and
continued their work in support of freedom of
expression,www.ekurd.netnotably
Soran Mama Hama, a young journalist from Kirkuk.
Soran published an article about Barzani family in
Lvin Magazine; soon after that, he was murdered in
execution style right before his house. Although,
all fingers were pointed at the KDP leadership for
Soran’s murder, the KDP leadership could evade any
thorough investigation of the murder since they
could manipulate the situation through their
influence over mainstream media and the police/legal
system. In other cases of journalistic coverage,
some journalists were severely beaten—others
harassed by the KDP forces—some fled the country
such as Mr. Halgurd Samad of Lvin Magazine.
Further, KDP’s hysterical and hostile behavior
against a free press increased. Independent
newspaper companies including Lvin Magazine, Awene,
and Hawlati newspapers found themselves under
constant scrutiny and harassment for promoting
freedom and democratic principles. Their
editor-in-chiefs were threatened for publishing
“opposing views” about Mr. Barzani or members of his
family.
The KDP’s attitudes towards a free and independent
press contradict their “democratic” slogans.
Occasionally, Mr. Massoud Barzani was quoted saying,
“Kurdish people are my brothers and sisters.” But,
when a young journalist, Sardashat Osman, wrote his
famous article, “I am in love with the daughter of
President Massoud Barzani” he was not treated as a
young “irresponsible” brother who, perhaps needed
some admonishment. But rather, it is widely believed
that the KDP’s security forces kidnapped Sardasht
from Hawlęr (Erbil) and took him to Mosul, where
they ended his young life with two bullets in his
mouth. This was a message the Barzani family wanted
to send to Sardasht’s colleagues, “Do not open your
mouth about the Barzani family.” This hideous crime
shook the conscience of people inside Kurdistan and
abroad. People were affronted, mainly by the
arrogance displayed by the Barzani leadership.
First, they issued a denial, and then they accused
Sardasht of being a conspirator and collaborator
with radical Islamists.
The reaction people showed made it clear to the KDP
and Barzani family that they would not stand by
quietly while free voices are silenced. People’s
message was stronger than the message the Barzani
family wanted to send to them through “bullets” in
Sardasht’s mouth. The free and vocal press remains
as loud as before. The people of Kurdistan have
shown no sign that they would allow the culture of
Saddam’s tyrannical regime to be replaced by
Barzani’s undemocratic establishment without strong
dissent. The Barzani family must be cognizant of the
fact that people under their rule, like any other
society, live in the information age in which
communication is instant and information can be
exchanged in the matter of seconds. The people of
Kurdistan sacrificed loads of blood to achieve this
freedom, and they are not willing to relinquish it.
This is a new reality and the Barzani family must
accept it.
Furthermore, once the Barzani leadership knew they
could not frighten people by murdering their free
voices, they turned to exploiting the judiciary
establishment, which is another KDP controlled
entity, particularly in Hewlęr and Duhok. The KDP
leadership was determined to go after any
journalist/person or newspaper/magazine that might
print columns not welcomed by them. Thus, the
Barzani leadership using so-called legal methods
brought several dozens of legal suits against Lvin,
Hawlati, Awene, and others. According to the
Kurdistan Journalist Syndicate, between July 1, 2010
and December 31, 2010, 60 suits were brought against
independent journalists and media outlets demanding
hundreds of thousands of dollars. The KDP’s
intention has been to mount enough monetary pressure
on the free media to stop criticizing Mr. Barzani or
members of his family.
In addition, the actions of the KDP leadership have
already set a modus operandi that indicates that the
future of Kurdistan may not enjoy democracy and
prosperity under the Barzani high-handed leadership.
In one of his speeches before the election in July
2009, Mr. Barzani stated, “The KDP has rights over
people.” This statement appears to suggest that his
KDP party has legal and political rights that
surpass the rights of individual citizens of
Kurdistan. This psycho-political view could be very
threatening to the nascent democracy in Kurdistan.
Mr. Barzani’s actions speak louder than his mouthing
words of democracy. His behavior, in recent years,
has gone against every democratic principle; and
could imperil the concept of a democratic and
peaceful future for the people of Kurdistan.
Kirmanj Gundi is a professor at the Department of
Educational Administration and Leadership at
Tennessee State University. You may visit Gundi's
blog at http://kigundi.blogspot.com/
Copyright © 2011 ekurd.net
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