Kurdish journalist Suleyman Ahmed, editor of the Arabic service of Roj News, has been out of contact for 33 days since he was detained by Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) security forces at the Sêmalka border crossing on 25 October.
Ahmed was on his way back to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) from his family home in North and East Syria when he was detained. Duhok security forces confirmed his arrest in a statement six days later, but claimed it was “unrelated to journalism”.
Since then, there have been no further statements or updates on Ahmed’s situation.
Concerns are growing as his family, colleagues and legal representatives have not been informed of his condition or the reasons for his detention.
Calls for Ahmed’s immediate release and a full explanation of the circumstances of his detention are growing both locally and internationally.