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Iraq bans two major Kurdish TV channels over inciting hatred, violence
[PRESSTV] Iraq’s media regulator has issued a ban on two major Kurdish television channels, namely Rudaw and Kurdistan 24, accusing the two networks of "inciting hatred and violence", as the semi-autonomous Kurdish region continues to suffer from the fallout of the last month’s contentious referendum on independence from the Arab country.The Baghdad-based Communication and Media Commission on Sunday imposed the ban the two channels, both of which are close to regional president  Massoud Barzani... hereditary head of the Kurdish Democratic Party, maybe a little too close to the Medes and the Persians for most people's tastes... ’s ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), alleging that programs of the pair "target social peace and security." The channels, however, strongly rejected the allegations and described the ban as a violation of freedom of speech. "This is an assault on freedom of press and expression," said the Erbil-based Kurdistan 24’s management in a letter to the International Federation of Journalists. The Rudaw, for its part, published a statement on its official website, saying that the regulator’s decision was a "political" one. It also slammed the move as "illegal and an intimidation of Rudaw and freedom of press in Iraq." "We call upon the Iraqi government, all concerned administrative authorities and those concerned with press freedom in Iraq to correct this defect as it impinges on Iraq's fame and dignity and it will be a grave precedent for press all over Iraq," said Ako Mohammad, the director general of Rudaw media network, in a separate statement. Posted by: Fred 2017-10-31 |
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