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March 16, 2025 – Iraq/Kurdish –
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urgently called for the release of two investigative journalists, Bashdar Bazyani and Sherwan Sherwani, who were detained in Iraqi Kurdistan. Both journalists have been known for their critical reporting on regional political and social issues, which has reportedly led to their arrests.
The detentions have sparked widespread concern among press freedom advocates, as RSF highlights a troubling pattern of intimidation and repression against independent media in the region. Authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan have been accused of using legal and extralegal measures to silence journalists who investigate corruption, human rights abuses, and political misconduct.
RSF emphasizes that holding journalists without clear charges or fair trials violates international human rights and press freedom standards. The organization is demanding that Bashdar Bazyani and Sherwan Sherwani be immediately released and that Kurdish authorities uphold the right to free expression.
This incident reflects a broader trend in Iraqi Kurdistan, where media professionals face harassment and restrictions while attempting to report freely. RSF continues to monitor the situation closely and calls on both local and international bodies to pressure authorities for transparency and the protection of journalists.
The case underscores the challenges faced by investigative journalists in politically sensitive regions, where freedom of the press is often under threat amid tensions between government institutions and independent watchdogs.
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