Journalist Hêmin Mamend was the victim of an armed attack carried out by two assailants on a motorcycle in the evening hours of Tuesday 2 September in Sulaymaniyah. The journalist, who was seriously wounded, was taken to the hospital for treatment.
In a statement, Stêrk TV said: “Political observer, journalist, and Stêrk TV program presenter Hêmin Mamend was attacked last night by unidentified individuals in the Eqarî (a region in Sulaymaniyah) area. Our presenter Hêmin Mamend was seriously injured by two bullets and is now receiving treatment in the hospital.”
The statement continued: “We strongly condemn the attack on our colleague, journalist Hêmin Mamend, and wish him a swift recovery.
Attacks on journalists are an international crime and constitute an assault on human rights and social rights.
The authorities in the Southern Kurdistan (Başur) region must immediately act to clarify the incident and expose the perpetrators and assailants.”
Chatr Production: Perpetrators must be caught
Chatr Production reacted by stated: “We see this attack as an attempt to silence freedom of thought and expression, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
The statement further said: “In the past, many journalists in the Kurdistan Region have been assassinated, and the perpetrators of many of these attacks have still not been apprehended. Once again, we affirm that no attack will silence journalists and activists or force them to step back from their duties. Security institutions must arrest those responsible for the attack on journalist Hêmin Mamend and make this known before the public.”