Journalist Ahmet in the hands of KDP for 143 days

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  • 17:41 15 March 2024
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NEWS CENTER - There has been no news from Rojnews editor Suleyman Ahmet, who has been detained by KDP's intelligence agency Parastin for 143 days.
 
There has been no news for 143 days from Suleyman Ahmet, the Arabic editor of Rojnews, who is detained by KDP-affiliated units at the Pêşxabûr (Sêmalka) Border Gate while returning to the Federated Kurdistan Region from the city of Aleppo, where he went to visit his family, on October 25.
 
Upon receiving information that Ahmet was taken to the city of Duhok, his lawyers applied to the Duhok Public Order Office. Even though it was unofficially accepted that Ahmet is in their hands, he was not allowed to meet with his lawyers. Duhok Public Order, which had to make a statement 6 days later after the reactions, claimed that Ahmet was not in their hands, even though they accused him of "carrying out intelligence activities". 
 
Thereupon, the Duhok Judgeship, to which the application was made, decided that his lawyers could meet with Ahmet. With this decision, it was officially accepted that Ahmet is detained. The lawyers, who went to the Duhok Public Order Office with the decision in hand, were not only not allowed to meet with Ahmet, but also faced attacks and threats that amounted to physical violence. Continuing their investigation despite the attacks and threats, the lawyers learned that Ahmet is being held in one of the unofficial detention centers of Parastin, the intelligence agency of the KDP.
 
MORE THAN 10 APPLICATIONS
 
Lawyers who are members of the Suleyman Ahmet Defense Group have officially made more than 10 applications. However, they are not allowed to meet with their client and no information about his situation was shared with them.
 
JOURNALISM ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMNED
 
The kidnapping of Suleyman Ahmet was condemned by domestic and international journalism professional organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders.
 
There is no statement about Suleyman Ahmet from the KDP administration, to which professional organizations as well as non-governmental organizations made calls.
 
APPLICATION TO THE UN
 
 Rojnews officials and editors appealed to the United Nations (UN) in recent weeks, demanding that the public be informed as soon as possible regarding the situation of Ahmet.