Swedish MPs ask for investigation into the murder case of Kurdish journalist Kawa Germyani

Knnc.net – January 19, 2014 – STOCKHOLM.  Five Members of the Swedish Parliament ask for an investigation into the murder case of a Kurdish journalist, Kawa Garmyani, and say that the killing of journalists is a crime against society and that it weakens freedom of speech.

The five members, in a letter, which is published by Awene Newspaper- a Kurdish independent weekly newspaper- express their concern over rising insecurity that the journalists face in Iraq, especially after the assassination of Kawa Garmyani.Kawa’s family members criticize the caretaker President of the Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, and the Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, for not investigating the crime and state that the Kalar Primary Court is under the pressure of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to divert the premises of the case.

The members comprising Anna Swanson, Shadya Haidari, Ara Hamadan Sa, Roza Gulju, and Larsh Johansson write that the killing of journalists or violence against them is violence against society because it weakens free speech; as a result, limits freedom and endangers human rights.

“Violent acts and events like this are unacceptable. The government institutions should work seriously on the case. The case has to be investigated freely and impartially.” The letter writes. “The criminals should be arrested and send to the courthouse because this crime will have an impact on the human society as a whole”.  Kawa Garmyani is known as an anti-corruption Kurdish journalist who was investigating corruption of high-ranking officials in Kalar when he was killed in his parent’s house on December 5, 2013.Kawa was the Editor-in-Chief of Garan ‘Travel Magazine for sometime until he became the Editor-in-Chief of Rayal Magazine and published 15 issues. He wrote for the two prominent independent newspapers in Iraqi Kurdistan: namely, Hawlati (The People) and Awene (The Mirror). He also wrote for other media outlets including Azadi ‘Freedom Radio, various Communist Party Outlets and Chawder Newspaper (The Observer).