September 2, 2025
The Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq strongly condemns the attempted assassination of TV presenter Hemin Mamand of Sterk TV, which took place in the “Aqari” neighborhood of Sulaymaniyah.
According to journalists in Sulaymaniyah, Mamand was shot twice during the attack, sustaining serious injuries. He was immediately transferred to Shar Hospital to receive urgent medical treatment.
It has been reported that Mamand had previously faced judicial prosecution in Erbil over a published article, forcing him to relocate to Sulaymaniyah. He has also been subjected to repeated violations, including restrictions on coverage and judicial harassment by the authorities in the Kurdistan Region.
The Association expresses its deep concern over the alarming escalation of violence against journalists in the Kurdistan Region in particular, and across Iraq in general.
We call on the political authorities in Kurdistan to urgently investigate this incident, disclose the perpetrators, and ensure accountability to protect press freedom and safeguard journalists from further attacks.
