Three members of the Channel8 news team, detained by Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) forces in Amedi (Amediyê) on Saturday while covering the Turkish army’s invasion of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), were taken to Duhok police station today, Channel8 reports.
The detained individuals include reporter Nzhiar Mohammed, cameraman Bahez Akreyi, and driver Hawar Yousef, no detailed statement regarding their arrest has been released by the relevant authorities, according to local sources.
Earlier, a similar incident occurred when another team of journalists covering the Turkish attacks in Amedi was briefly detained by KDP forces. Since the start of the invasion on 3 July, only the Voice of America (VoA) Kurdish and Rudaw have been briefly allowed to report on humanitarian issues and the victimisation of residents. Freelancers and all critical ventures have been severely restricted.
The Turkish army has been intensifying its military operations in the Amedi district of Duhok province for the past two weeks. In the last 15 days, Turkey has deployed at least 300 tanks and armoured vehicles into Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkish forces have established checkpoints, collected identity documents from residents, and forcibly evacuated several border villages. This military presence has sparked concerns about further displacement and the sovereignty of the region.
