PUKMEDIA Warns Metro Center & Journalists Syndicate of Cyber Attacks

Kurdistan 12:15 PM - 2024-11-01

PUKMEDIA Team with Metro Center Team.

A cyber attack was once again executed from Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, targeting PUKMEDIA, the official website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). A report concerning the attack, its details, and dangers to new media was presented to the Metro Centre for Journalists' Rights & Advocacy.

A recent cyber attack prompted PUKMEDIA to briefly shut down, and the managing company said that the attack originated from Erbil.

Ata Karim, Editor-in-Chief of PUKMEDIA, delivered a report in both Kurdish and English regarding the efforts and cyber attacks on the site, while also addressing the threats associated with such attacks, stating that these attacks represent another form of terrorism that targets press freedom and are entirely antithetical to journalistic ethics and democratic principles. 

"The objective and attacks are evidently aimed at opposing websites and pages that shape public opinion and express criticism," he said.

Karim stated that the threat rises when these targeted teams and organisations execute attacks without accountability, and no individuals have been held accountable, despite the open talks about the attacks.

Diyari Mohammed, director of the Metro Center, agreed in views on the dangers of cyber attacks and narrowing the space of freedom, stating: "These attacks pose a significant threat to freedom and media works, prompting numerous other entities to file complaints and voice their concerns regarding threats to freedom and fabrication with diplomatic organisations and institutions."

“The progression of information technology has introduced challenges that occasionally impede freedom of expression and journalism,” stated Mohammed.

Simultaneously, the report detailing the violations and cyber attacks on PUKMEDIA was presented to the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate/Sulaymaniyah Branch, where the associated dangers were thoroughly examined.

Karwan Anwar, Secretary of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate/Sulaymaniyah Branch, received the report detailing the cyber attacks on PUKMEDIA, where he emphasised that these attacks constitute a significant impediment to the works of new media, with numerous pages documenting these concerns.

He deemed it necessary to convene a comprehensive conference on this matter to elucidate the dangers, barriers, motivations, and objectives of those perpetrating these attacks, emphasising that the primary victims of such assaults are media freedom and democracy in the Kurdistan Region.


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