Judge Refuses Bail for Journalist Sirwan Hassan

Journalist Sirwan Hassan was detained in Garmian prison in Kalar for three days, with his bail request being rejected by the judge. Hassan was sued by the Kalari Forum of the Gorran Movement for a Facebook post in which he highlighted illegal activities and corruption involving a Gorran Movement official.

This incident underscores the increasing harassment and arrest of journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, often for no legitimate reason. Such actions are intended to prevent them from exposing corruption cases, making the region a red flag for free speech and press freedom.