Assassination Attempt of Kurdish TV Host Hemn Mamand Shocks Sulaymaniyah

September 03, 2025 – Iraq – 

Iraqi Kurdish journalist and activist Hemn Mamand, host of the popular Sterk TV talk show “Sarinj – Comment”, was gravely wounded in an apparent targeted shooting on September 2, 2025, in Sulaymaniyah. The attack occurred just hours after his program aired, as he was departing a restaurant. Witnesses report that two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire, striking Mamand with five shots—one hitting his arm and shrapnel lodging in his abdomen—before fleeing the scene.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the assault, calling it a clear assassination attempt and demanding a swift investigation into whether the attack was politically motivated. CPJ’s regional director, Sara Qudah, urged authorities to transparently investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable, emphasizing that journalists must not be allowed to operate under the constant threat of violence.

Sterk TV, the station Mamand works for, is affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—which has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU—and the network openly discusses sensitive human rights issues, including Turkish military operations in Iraq’s Kurdish region.

Before the attack, Mamand had publicly requested protection from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), citing threats to his life related to his activism and reporting on Turkish policies. Local security forces, including the Kurdistan Region Security Agency, confirmed they have launched an investigation, although no arrests have been made.

The incident spotlights the deteriorating conditions for press freedom in Iraqi Kurdistan, where media workers face escalating violence while covering political and human rights issues. Ensuring Mamand’s safety—and that of his colleagues—has become a crucial test for the region’s commitment to protecting journalists and upholding democratic norms.

Reference – 

https://www.pukmedia.com/EN/Details/79004

Iraqi Kurdish TV host Hemn Mamand shot after broadcast