In typical Erdogan fashion, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has accused several detained journalists and activists of espionage. "They have tried to blow up buildings and kidnap or kill foreigners in the region," Barzani said Wednesday during a press conference in Hewlêr (Erbil). The KDP politician's claims are not based on facts or evidence, but on speculation and malicious slander, several human rights organizations denounced. Thus, there is no quick solution in sight in the case of those who have been held in pre-trial detention for months without any reason.

Arrests in response to anti-government protests

In reaction to the protests in Southern Kurdistan last year, some of which were bloodily suppressed, against mismanagement, corruption, high unemployment, outstanding salaries and the closing of ranks between the political elite in Hewlêr and the Turkish regime in Ankara, there were waves of arrests throughout the autonomous region. The authorities focused their attention primarily on teachers, media workers and civil society activists. Human rights organizations believe that at least sixteen people, including teacher and activist Badal Barwari and journalists Omed Baroshki, Guhdar Zebari, Sherwan Sherwani and Qahraman Shukri, are still being arbitrarily detained in the Behdinan region in Duhok governorate alone. Some of them have even been behind bars for almost half a year - without charge.

Barzani: Armed individuals with a "destructive mentality"

"These people only disguised themselves as activists or journalists, but behind the scenes they were doing other things," Barzani claimed. He said they were "armed individuals" with a "destructive mentality" who were working for other countries. "We support journalists' rights and freedom of expression in every way, but anyone who wants to destroy our security will be dealt with according to our laws," Barzani threatened.

Bizarre accusations

"We take the prime minister's bizarre accusations as an unequivocal announcement to the judiciary to do what is necessary," expressed a relative of a detained activist who does not want his name mentioned here for security reasons. Especially in view of several arrests in Hewlêr during a rally last Sunday for the release of detainees, Barzani's words regarding freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Southern Kurdistan sound "absolutely cynical."

Metro: At least 385 attacks against journalists and media institutions

There was also criticism from the Sulaymaniyah-based Metro Center for Journalist Rights & Advocacy. According to the organization, there were at least 385 assaults against 291 media professionals and agencies as well as newspapers in 2020, including physical attacks, arrests, office closures and apparently unfounded or wanton or harassing complaints. Not only the Metro Center and other local organizations, but also initiatives abroad have expressed alarm about the situation of press freedom in Southern Kurdistan. Especially since Prime Minister Barzani took office in July 2019, the situation for critical media professionals has been particularly dramatic. In December, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had called on Masrour Barzani to keep his promise to "allow the free exercise of press freedom" in the Kurdistan Region.