Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on Friday for the immediate release of investigative journalists Bashdar Bazyani and Sherwan Sherwani, stating that their detention by authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan is on “baseless” grounds, and intended to silence critical reporting.
Bazyani, the founder of the newly established digital media outlet Media21, was arrested by Kurdish security forces in Sulaymaniyah on February 28,, just ten days after the media outlet began operations. Three other journalists from Media21 — Dana Salih, Sardasht Hama Salih and Nabaz Sheikhani — were also detained but released on bail after 48 hours. According to RSF, authorities shut down Media21’s office under the pretext that it was operating without a license. Reportedly, several equipment were confiscated and staff were warned not to returned to the site.
The Sulaymaniyah Journalists’ Syndicate indicated that Bazyani is being held under Article 433 of the Iraqi Penal Code, accused of “publishing false information” and “defamation.” However, formal charges are yet to be announced. RSF stated that Bazyani’s detention is possibly linked to his investigative reporting on industrial pollution from a local cement factory, prompting threats of legal action from the factory owners. According to RSF, the arrest may also be related to an unpublished interview involving the relative of a Kurdish government official.
Local organizations such as the Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy have also expressed concern over Bazyani’s detention, calling for transparency regarding his arrest and emphasizing the necessity of protecting journalists’ rights in the region.
Sherwan Sherwani, another prominent investigative journalist and founder of Bashur Magazine, has also been subjected to repeated incarcerations. In 2020, Sherwani was imprisoned on espionage charges and sentenced to six years in prison; that sentence was later reduced to three. Upon the completion of this sentence in 2023, authorities added an additional four-year term that RSF had condemned as “cruel and vindictive.” This sentence was subsequently shortened to two years, although Sherwani remains incarcerated due to administrative delays despite his release being scheduled for March 9.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the actions against Media21 and the ongoing detention of the journalists as a direct attack on press freedom. Both RSF and CPJ have urged Kurdish authorities to cease the harassment of media professionals, arguing these actions not only violate the journalists’ rights but also restrict the public’s right to critical information.
