The Federation of Independent Journalists and Writers (Ronus) organised a workshop in Sulaymaniyah on the occasion of Kurdish Journalists' Day. Organised in 3 panels, the workshop discussed the situation of the Kurdish press and the obstacles it faces.

Speaking about the situation of press institutions in the Kurdistan Region, Academician Dr Saman Fevzi said: "The situation of press organisations in the Kurdistan Region is very bad. In order to organise good communication and press space, we need the rule of law. The press law is inoperable in the Kurdistan Region."

Hetaw Heme Salih, Head of the Department of Press and Communication at Halabja University, expressed his views on the subject as follows: "Unfortunately, there is no freedom of thought and expression in the Kurdistan Region. Despite all the media organisations, not a single step has been taken. The hegemony of the Kurdistan Region government has suffocated the media under its control."

Journalist Kemal Rauf, who spoke about the situation of press freedom in Kurdistan Region, stated the following "Today, apart from the official media organisations, there are private media institutions that strive to bring the voice of the people to the government. These organisations also have the task of connecting the regions, creating cultural debates and spreading awareness among the people. On the other hand, it is very important to bring newspapers to readers, to build public opinion against civil war and to democratise society."

Kemal Rauf concluded: "The government in the Kurdistan Region is defaming the Kurdish press. It detains journalists and accuses them of being spies. Journalists' life safety is not protected. Every journalist in the Kurdistan Region has the possibility of being accused and arrested in this way."