Politically Driven Media in Erbil Exploiting Events in Sulaymaniyah

Kurdistan 04:43 PM - 2025-08-24

Aftermath of Lalezar events, right. A boy standing on security forces' car during Harki clashes.

Some media outlets in Erbil, driven by political agendas, have sought to exploit recent events in Sulaymaniyah, despite their inability to cover developments in Erbil and Duhok with the same professionalism. 

The head of the Sulaymaniyah branch of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate has criticised this approach, stating: “Exaggerating aspects of events in Sulaymaniyah for political purposes represents a deviation from the principles of journalistic practice. What is being broadcast by some Erbil-based channels constitutes a violation of media ethics, transforming coverage into fabricated narratives that create negative psychological effects on citizens.”

On 22 August 2025, armed clashes broke out in Sulaymaniyah as the Kurdistan Region Security Agency's (Asayish) forces went on a duty to arrest Lahur Jangi, leader of the People’s Front, at the Lalezar Hotel under a judicial warrant issued pursuant to Article 56 of the Iraqi Penal Code. Despite repeated calls for a peaceful surrender, according to the Asayish, Jangi and his associates resisted, declaring they commanded an armed force, and opened fire on the Asayish.

The clashes lasted three hours before security forces brought the hotel under control, arresting Lahur and his brother Polad Jangi. Three members of the security forces were martyred during the operation. Sulaymaniyah Court Spokesperson confirmed the defendants now face further charges under Article 406 of the Penal Code, relating to premeditated murder.

Double Standards in News Coverage

Observers have noted clear double standards in the way these media outlets handle events. While the prosecution of the Harki tribe and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)-affiliated forces in Erbil was portrayed as a professional measure, the law enforcement operation in Sulaymaniyah—particularly the arrest of outlaws of the Lalezar Hotel—was exaggerated and distorted, fuelling attempts to incite chaos against Sulaymaniyah.

The Harki tribes and KDP-affiliated forces were involved in deadly clashes last month following a reported raid on the home of prominent tribal leader Khurshid Harki. According to local sources, security forces attempted to move against Harki’s residence, sparking a confrontation with his supporters. The standoff escalated and ultimately concluded with the failure of the security forces to arrest Khurshid Harki.

Crises Reveal the Weight and Value of Media Institutions

Karwan Anwar, Secretary of the Sulaymaniyah branch of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, told PUKMEDIA: “The weight and importance of the media become evident in times of crisis. Yet some Kurdish outlets abandon journalistic principles altogether when covering such situations. The current media landscape in the Kurdistan Region is divided into two camps, one of which serves specific objectives, manufacturing crises to elevate its institutions, and another that fulfils its responsibility to deliver accurate information.”

He continued: “Media coverage must be based on professional standards and provide balanced reporting on all events. Exaggerating one aspect of a story is a breach of these principles. What we are witnessing on some channels now has gone further still—becoming a tool for fabrication and a source of fear and anxiety among the public.”

Anwar stressed that portrayals by certain KDP-affiliated media outlets, depicting Sulaymaniyah as if it were ‘burning’, are entirely unfounded: “Sulaymaniyah is a safe and peaceful city. Such distortions violate the rules of journalism. One must ask: if the same events had taken place in Erbil, would these outlets have reported them in the same way? The answer is certainly not.”

Directed Media

The Secretary of the Journalists Syndicate in Sulaymaniyah also criticised these practices: “When armed clashes occurred on the borders of Erbil Governorate, these channels failed to provide professional coverage. Yet whenever an incident arises in Sulaymaniyah, they immediately exaggerate its scale, presenting it as highly serious, when the reality is altogether different.”

He added: “Time and again, these media outlets have sown panic and fear by exaggerating events to serve partisan political agendas, rather than reporting based on facts on the ground. This confirms that they are directed media. What they produce is not genuine news coverage but political propaganda, deliberately designed to mislead their audiences.”

It is widely recognised that certain media institutions were established from the outset with political purposes in mind. These outlets routinely exaggerate or downplay events across the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and beyond, depending on partisan agendas and geography. Such practices not only foster anxiety and fear among the public but also involve the dissemination of false and misleading information with the aim of distorting reality and manipulating public opinion. This behaviour stands in stark violation of journalistic ethics and law, constituting a serious departure from professional standards.



PUKMEDIA