Silêman Ahmed, the editor of Rojnews Arabic Service, was abducted by KDP forces at the Semalka (Faysh Khabur, Kr: Pêşxabûr) crossing point on the Iraqi-Syrian border on 25 October while returning to South Kurdistan from Aleppo, where he had gone on 1 October to visit his family. No news has been received from the Kurdish journalist for 41 days now.

212 organisations and personalities in South Kurdistan made a joint statement demanding freedom for Silêman Ahmed.

The joint appeal on Monday includes the following:

"Silêman Ahmed, one of the editors of Rojnews, who was detained by the Duhok Security Forces more than a month ago, has not been heard from since.

Despite all the freedom campaigns for Silêman Ahmed in the last month and more than 10 requests submitted by lawyers for a meeting with him, no results have been achieved and the Duhok Security Service has prevented the lawyers from seeing Silêman Ahmed.

The lawyers still have not been able to establish a connection with Silêman Ahmed and have not been able to access the file that was used as a justification for his detention.

We, as journalists, educators, activists, lawyers and supporters of freedom, believe that the charges against Silêman Ahmed are a repetition of the scenario developed against journalist Şêrwan Şêrwanî. Silêman Ahmed is wanted punished with baseless accusations.

It is the duty of all journalists, pro-freedom, national and international organisations and personalities to oppose what is happening and these sanctions developed by the government against journalists. What is happening is leading the future of the Kurdistan Region towards a dark period.

Silêman Ahmed is innocent! He was detained and kidnapped because he is a journalist. Duhok Public Security and the Kurdistan Region Government are responsible for his safety. Silêman Ahmed must be freed and released immediately."

The list of signatories is as follows:

Şêx Eyub Barzanî (Politician)

Şêx Edhem Barzanî (Activist)

Raê Fehmî (Secretary of the Iraqi Communist Party)

Merîwan Wirya (Author)

Seid Kakeyi (former member of the Iraqi Election Commission)

Aras Fetah (Author)

Ehmed Mîre (Journalist)

Xazi Feysel (Volunteer Peshmerga Commander)

Elî Kerîmî (Author)

Kawe Mihemed (former Iraqi parliamentarian)

Eli Hemesalih (former parliamentarian of the Kurdistan Region)

Mihemed Kiyanî (Politician)

Asos Herdî (Journalist)

Rêbîn (Journalist)

Niyaz Abdullah (Journalist)

Kemal Rauf (Journalist)

Şêrko Kirmanc (Author)

Awat Hisamedîn (representative of Zerdest)

Kemal Çomanî (Journalist)

Rêzan Şêx Dilêr (Lawyer)

Latif Fatih Faraj (Journalist)

Dilşad Enwer (Journalist)

Tarîq Fatîh (Journalist)

Ednan Osman (Journalist)

Xalib Mihemed (former Iraqi parliamentarian)

Serkewt Shamsedin (former Iraqi parliamentarian)

Shiwan Mihemed (Journalist)

Azad Osman (Journalist)

Reed Refet (Academician)

Babekir Daraie (Author)

Newrozî Mangir (Activist)

Jiwan Ehmed Seid (Journalist)

Aram Seid (Journalist)

Shinyar Enwer (Activist)

Rêbîn Umer (Journalist)

Mihemed Hisên (Journalist)

Sîrwan Xerîb (Journalist)

Xalid Osman (Journalist)

Jehfer Elî (Trade Union Executive)

Stare Arif (Activist)

Kemal Seid Qadir (Journalist)

Hawkar Îzet Mîke (Journalist)

Xende Mamend (Teacher)

Hêmin Mamend (Journalist)

Bextiyar Mistefa Qadir (Journalist)

Dana Menmi (Journalist)

Şanaz Remzî Hîranî (Author)

Dilshad Mîranî (Dissident Teacher)

Homer Mihemed (Journalist)

Eyad Mihemed (Journalist)

Mihreban Hisên Salih (Literature)

Kirmanc Gundî

Xelef Xefur (Journalist)

Gulale Sadeq (Economist)

Pishder Babekir (Journalist)

Runak Salih (Activist)

Rêbaz Faruq (Activist)

Kawe Nadir (Political Observer)

Amed Pîran (Activist)

Perî Tahîr (Activist)

Ehmed Arif (Author)

Shaswar Ebdula Hershami (Teacher)

Bedran Mihî (Author)

Dana Umer (Journalist)

Huner Faris (Journalist)

Dilzar Arif (Journalist)

Hewreman Wirya(Teacher)

Ehmed Ezîz (Literature)

Sehêl Sabîr (Director of the Statistical Institute)

Mela Ferman (Author)

Osman Heme Seid (Activist)

Aram Hadî (Journalist)

Lenya Bextiyar (Journalist)

Bashdar Osman (Journalist)

Rêbaz Majîd (Journalist)

Gelawêj Hemezî (Activist)

Newzadi Muhendîs (Author)

Serbest Nerîman (Journalist)

Najibeh Mehmud (Journalist)

Çolî Esed (Journalist)

Nebez Xalid (Journalist)

Muetesim Najmedin (Author)

Gerde Mameheme (Activist)

Dewen Meruf (Author)

Hawjîn Xerîb (Journalist)

Samani Westa Bekir (Journalist)

Peyman Îzedîn (Lawyer)

Îbrahîm Ebas (Journalist)

Ezitz Reuf (Author)

Şêrîn Tahîr (Author)

Simko Sabîr (Researcher)

Herêm Osman (Author)

Yasîn Mihemed (Journalist)

Mihemed Mehmud (Journalist)

Ziryan Mihemed (Journalist)

Sure Mihemed (Journalist)

Fatieh Hesen (Activist)

Rewez Hemsalih (Xezelnus Centre Manager)

Qadir Nadir (Journalist)

Roza Hemesalih (Author)

Mensur Teyfuri (Student)

Nerîman Sabîr (Journalist)

Bextiyar Seid (Artist)

Gimo Mihemed (Journalist)

Mijde Elî (Activist)

Hêvî Selah (Journalist)

Aram Cemal (Journalist)

Bêrîvan Bergareyî (Journalist)

Tayf Goran (Journalist)

Perwa Elî (Activist)

Hevres Shiwan (Lawyer)

Geshe Caf (Journalist)

Şoreş Emîn (Activist)

Burhan Qeredaxî (Author)

Senger Pênciwênî (Official at the Ministry of Interior)

Mehdi Yusif (Activist)

Hawrê Nehro (Activist)

Sergul Qeredax (Lawyer)

Osman Gulpî (Activist)

Zimanko Ismail (Journalist)

Zana Hesen (Journalist)

Enwer Hisên (Journalist)

Ehmed Babali (Journalist)

Seed Reuf (Journalist)

Eli Feyrzula (Author)

Seed Metlebî (politician)

Mihemed Şefîq (Journalist)

Miqdad Hesnawi (Journalist)

Mihemed Cîhadî (Journalist)

Mihemed Salihi (Journalist)

Ehmed Rubeyî (Journalist)

Sam Zehroni (Journalist)

Sera Seed (Journalist)

Lînda (Journalist)

Raman Shahin (Artist)

Mihemed Rubeyî (Journalist)

Zulfeqar Fazil (Journalist)

Hisên Hadî (Journalist)

Zahir Musa (Author)

Meysem Herbî (Author)

Hisam Hach (Presenter)

Shamīl Qadir (Journalist)

Bitul Hesen (Server)

Zeyneb Xefaji (Journalist)

Berhem Letif (Journalist)

Aras Îbrahîm (Journalist)

Kelsum Hisên (Journalist)

Behre Umer (Journalist)

Afasta Lawlaw (Journalist)

Jiyan San (Journalist)

Bînayî Umer (Journalist)

Hawjîn Shiwane (Journalist)

Sinur Rehman (Journalist)

Tiwana Mistefa (Journalist)

Mîran Sabîr (Journalist)

Birwa Ebdulrehman (Journalist)

Shadyar Shoresh (Journalist)

Tewar Adil (Journalist)

Shatu Mihemed (Journalist)

Karzan Kelhuri (Journalist)

Mihemed Ezîz (Journalist)

Rêbîn Hewramî (Journalist)

Ebdulrehman Hisên (Journalist)

Ezîz Koylaw (Journalist)

Botan Germiyanî (Journalist)

Erkan Mihemed (Journalist)

Sîrwan Reşîd (Journalist)

Binar Hîdayet (Journalist)

Sîrwan Hisên (Journalist)

Sîham Roj (Journalist)

Nasyar Mistefa (Journalist)

Shai Aram (Journalist)

Birwa Asad (Journalist)

Muhsîn Kerî (Journalist)

Shadi Umer (Journalist)

Shoresh Xalid (Journalist)

Awdêr Umer (Journalist)

Elî Abdulsemed (Journalist)

SoranEhmed (Journalist)

Hêrîş Reşîd (Journalist)

Karox Hesen (Lawyer)

Mihemed Elî (Journalist)

Refîq Ehmed (Journalist)

Hêmin Hesen (Journalist)

Aram Qeredaxî (Journalist)

Hêmin Ehmed (Journalist)

Perêz Sabîr (Journalist)

Hejar Enwer (Journalist)

Huner Heme Rashid (Journalist)

Goran Abdullah (Journalist)

Cîhad Celal (Journalist)

Baran Germiyanî (Journalist)

Iman Selîm (Journalist)

Sîva Azad (Journalist)

Meaz Ferhan (Journalist)

Awat Xêruld (Journalist)

Ferman Hesen (Lawyer)

Ferman Sadiq (Journalist)

Rêbîn Mihemed (Journalist)

Serkeş (Translator)

Civil society organisations and press organisations

Federation of Independent Journalists and Writers

Hewlatî newspaper

Deng radio

Newjîn

White Media

Shharpress

Wêste Nîwz

Rojnews

Cetir Company