Released Syrian Kurdish journalist leaves Iraqi Kurdistan

ERBIL,—A Kurdish journalist returned to northeastern Syria (Rojava) on Monday following more than 15 months in detention by authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, his lawyer said.

Slêman Mohammed Ahmed, a journalist with Rojnews—a media outlet reportedly affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—was arrested on October 25, 2023, by security forces in Duhok, a region controlled by the Kurdistan Barzani’s Democratic Party (KDP).

He received a three-year prison sentence after being accused of participating in “covert and unlawful activities” on behalf of the PKK.

Earlier this month, the Kurdistan Region’s Cassation Court overturned Ahmed’s conviction, dropping all charges and ordering his immediate release. His lawyer confirmed that Ahmed was freed on Monday and voluntarily returned to Syrian Kurdistan, where he was reunited with his family.

“He specifically requested to see his mother first,” the lawyer said. “After his release, we ensured he safely crossed the border into Syrian Kurdistan.” Ahmed, who served as the Arabic section editor for Rojnews, was detained while returning to Iraqi Kurdistan from Rojava, where he had been visiting family.

At the time, Rojnews alleged that Ahmed’s arrest was politically motivated, stemming from accusations of ties to the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which governs Syrian Kurdistan. The KDP, led by the Barzani family, has been accused of suppressing media freedoms and targeting journalists linked to groups it opposes, including the PKK and its allies. Critics claim the KDP collaborates with Turkey against the PKK.

In contrast, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which controls the Sulaimani region, maintains closer ties with PKK-aligned groups. The case highlights growing concerns over press freedom in the Kurdistan Region, particularly in areas controlled by the Barzani-led KDP.

Rights groups and journalists have repeatedly condemned the region as one of the most dangerous places for media workers. Dozens of journalists and activists remain imprisoned in KDP-controlled territories, serving lengthy sentences under harsh conditions.

The ongoing crackdown has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations, which describe the situation as emblematic of the region’s deteriorating human rights record and its hostility toward independent journalism.