The guards and managers of a petrol station in Kirkuk committed at least five ofences against me in 45 minutes: they stopped me from media coverage, took my equipment, detained me, insulted me and released me on the condition that I will never cover fuel distribution in petrol stations again after signing a declaration.
I am Akam Samad Mohammed Waziri, a 23-years-old journalist, working for media in the four past years and currently Kirkuk correspondent of Sharpress.net, a media portal based in Sulaimaniyah.
On October 18th 2021, I was about to investigate the "expulsion" of the head of the PUK's Kirkuk headquarter but before that, another incident took place and I briefed my agency about the story.
My idea was to cover the big crowds of people and long queuse of cars in a government petrol station, unlike in the past, as there were many motorists at Aqaba Bin Nafia petrol station on Baghdad Highway neighborhood of Kirkuk.
When the editorial staff of my agency gave me green light, I decided to take some photos of the crowd and sent it to the agency. I decided to interview the manager there. When I went into the station and approached, the policeman asked, "What do you want, and why are you here?"
I introduced myself and explained my plan and the reason for the coverage. He asked me to head to the manager. One of the station staff headed to me and told me no media coverage is allowed yet he gave no further details.
He kept saying no videos allowed. I told him I want to talk to the manager and interview him and he asked me to leave the station and go away.
Again I told him am a journalist reporting the crowd at the station and the reason behind it but in vain. I agreed to leave. I took some photos of the boards showing types of gas and fees.
For me, it was an ordinary coverage of an issue that has to do with everyday life of people and it has nothing to do with security and stability because for people it matters to know why there are long queues in state petrol stations so was busy with taking photos and recording videos.
The guards and the staff of the stations called me again. They forcibly took my journalistic equipment from me, with my press ID. They said they will hand me over to the Iraqi intelligence and counter-terror service to interrogate me.
An intelligence officer in ordinary dress interrogated me for 45 minutes
An intelligence officer in ordinary dress investigated me for 45 minutes and searched up all my press equipment. Their excuse for my detention was that I did not have permission to work as a journalist from Kirkuk administration, while my agency is registered and licensed by the Kurdistan Regional Government's KRG Ministry of Culture and syndicate of journalists in Kurdistan.
I have argued that journalists are free to report on the incident and should not be stopped. I also told them that in March I had asked Kirkuk administration for permission and press badge but they said it is not required.
All my efforts turned useless. They didn't even allow me to tell my agency and my family that I was detained. The station employee called Muayad refused to let me see the station's manager. He took my stuff from me, called me liar and insulted me. They deleted all the photos and videos in my camera.
They forced me to fill out a written declaration no longer to cover any petrol stations or take photos
Then I forcibly filled out the letter which said no longer coverage of any fuel stations or taking photos. They allowed me to go in one condition which is filling out that letter.
I was shocked it was the first time to be in such a situation and to be treated in this way since I was working as a reporter. I am now wondering who will protect my rights, how I will regain my rights for the abuses and insults they committed against me, whether I will seek court or not.
In fact, what made me to not file a lawsuit was a phone call from media manager of Kirkuk branch for the national company for distribution of oil products, a body that oversights state petrol stations. He told me that they will be taking legal action against those employees. I am waiting to see what they will do; otherwise I will not forgive them and will take legal action.
