The Metro Center, a non-governmental organization established by journalists and human rights advocates, stated that the arrest warrants issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Ministry of Interior on Sunday call into question both the freedom of journalistic work and the rule of law. The watchdog criticized authorities for bypassing standard press legislation to target Ahmed Najm, Chairman of Channel8's Board of Directors, and presenter Bzhar Dabax.

“Lawsuits with clear political dimensions are escalating and being subjected to the political conflict between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). By doing so, they are questioning not only the freedom of journalistic work but also the rule of law,” the Metro Center said in a statement on Monday.

Watchdog: Authorities Bypass Press Law in Over 10 Journalism Cases 

According to the watchdog, authorities have bypassed standard press legislation in over 10 recent publishing cases over the past two months, ignoring legal requirements to handle media disputes exclusively under the Journalism Law.

“Instead, authorities resorted to Law No. 6 of 2008, the 'Law on Misuse of Telecommunication Devices,' which carries prison terms ranging from six months to five years,” the statement added.

The organization stressed that the statute "has gone beyond its intended scope," warning that legal phrases like "publishing fabricated news" and "fabricating accusations via the internet" are being weaponized to target critics and journalists.

The watchdog warned that applying the 2008 telecommunications law to press cases "devalues the Journalism Law in Kurdistan," urging collective action to confront the trend.

Watchdog: PUK-KDP Rivalry Splitting Police and Subjugating Law 

Metro also disclosed that the PUK reportedly requested the Minister of Interior to delay the arrest warrants until the suspects appeared in court, but the Minister issued the order regardless.

“The Metro Center is certain that no police station within the borders of Sulaymaniyah Governorate and its surroundings will execute the request of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Minister of Interior; due to political division, they do not view him as their minister. The same applies to orders originating from Sulaymaniyah,” Metro added.

The watchdog accused the KDP and PUK of using media for political warfare that has deepened "regionalism and old grudges, distorting the truth," warning, “Simultaneously, they have created a discourse in which the political process itself is the casualty.”

“The escalation of these lawsuits, which bear clear political dimensions, and the subjugation of the law to the political conflict between the PUK and the KDP, call into question not only the freedom of journalistic work but also the rule of law. We reject this,” Metro emphasized.