Süleyman Ahmet, the editor of the Arabic service for Rojnews, has been in detention with no communication with family or lawyers for 18 days.
Ahmet was detained by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) security forces at the Sêmalka (Pêşxabûr) border crossing on 25 October while returning from North and East Syria.
Six days after Ahmet’s detention, the Duhok police, affiliated with the KDP, announced his arrest, stateding that his detention was unrelated to his journalistic activities. However, no further details about his condition or the reasons for his detention have been disclosed to his family.
Rojnews has issued a statement expressing increasing concern for Ahmet’s well-being, and holding the KDP responsible for the life and safety of their editor, demanding his immediate release and transparency regarding his condition.
Ahmet’s family, originally from the Janders district and residing in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in Aleppo, has had contact from him since his detention. The family had been awaiting his return following a visit to Aleppo after the death of his father, Muhammad Ahmad, in February 2023 and his absence is a clear source of distress to them.
Ahmet’s mother has appealed to the authorities in South Kurdistan through the ANHA news agency, calling on them to disclose information about her son’s fate and ensure his release. The situation continues to raise serious concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in the region.
