Shafaq News / Lataif Berawi, the Media Official of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, clarified on Tuesday that the party was not responsible for the detention of two journalists in al-Sulaymaniyah Province, contrary to certain claims circulating in the media and on social platforms.

During a press conference, Berawi stated, "Upon the orders and directives of the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, we were instructed to follow up on the news related to the journalists' detention by forces affiliated with the Union." He explained that upon investigation, it was revealed that journalists Jamal Abdullah and Imad Bilal were detained by the provincial police due to pending legal cases against them.

Berawi elaborated, "The journalists were arrested by the police based on judicial orders, and no other security agencies intervened in this matter. We met with them, reviewed the related issues, and confirmed the charges against them."

Regarding Jamal Abdullah, Berawi clarified, "The arrest order for journalist Jamal Abdullah stems from a complaint related to his work in a media agency in 2013. He was released on bail but did not attend the final court session as he had traveled to Erbil. Upon his return to al-Sulaymaniyah, the court's order was executed. Another complaint against journalist Imad Bilal involves allegations of misuse of communication devices filed by one of his colleagues from the Islamic Group of Kurdistan."

The PUK's media official emphasized, "the arrest of journalist Jamal Abdullah had no connection with anti-terrorism forces or commando units, contrary to what was circulated in some media outlets." He urged these outlets to "refrain from provocative means and destabilizing the social peace in the province."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Counterterrorism Directorate in al-Sulaymaniyah denied allegations of arresting a journalist who was also a government employee in the Chemchemal district of the province.