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November 8, 2024 – Iraq/Kurdistan –
Veteran investigative journalist Wrya Abdulkhaliq of Bwar Media was ambushed in his orchard near Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, shortly after publishing a groundbreaking exposé alleging obstruction by a Peshmerga Ministry official in a regional water and electricity project. At the hands of two assailants—an official’s nephew and his bodyguard—Abdulkhaliq sustained severe injuries: stabbed repeatedly in the abdomen, struck in the head with a gun butt, and had his car tires punctured to prevent escape. After undergoing surgery involving 21 stitches, he was reported in stable condition. Three suspects, including the nephew and the bodyguard, have been arrested, and local authorities pledged a full investigation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) swiftly condemned the attack. Yeganeh Rezaian, CPJ’s interim MENA program coordinator, demanded accountability, stating the organization was “appalled by the brutal attack” and urged the Kurdistan Regional Government to act. Local coverage by Kurdistan24 echoed this condemnation. The assault follows a pattern targeting journalists who challenge entrenched power, highlighted by the kneecapping of investigative reporters unmasking corruption in the region.
This shocking incident follows earlier episodes in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2024: a suspected Turkish drone strike killed two journalists in August, and multiple outlets—including Media21—faced raids, equipment confiscation, and arrests by security forces earlier this year. Reports also cite journalists being tear-gassed and detained during protests, underlining a wider climate of hostility against press freedom.
Abdulkhaliq’s attack signals the escalating risk for media workers exposing corruption and conducting watchdog journalism. Despite Kurdish authorities’ arrest of suspects and assurances of justice, CPJ warns that such pressuring tactics breed a chilling effect. Without swift legal follow-through, perpetrators and powerful defendants may feel emboldened, deepening impunity.
The assault on Abdulkhaliq is more than a violent act—it’s an alarm bell for Kurdish democracy. When journalists are silenced through brutality, the public loses its voice, and corruption thrives unchecked. Robust protection for press freedom, independent investigations, and accountability is critical to ensure that informing the public does not endanger the messenger.
Reference –
Journalist stabbed 21 times in Iraqi Kurdistan after reporting on corruption
