16^th21 April, 2019 - Parliament's presidency today congratulated journalists in the Kurdistan Region on the 121st anniversary of the Kurdish press. In their message on the anniversary, the presidency said the Kurdistan Region has made progress in promoting and supporting a free press, through the Press Law enacted by the Parliament. “The free press in the Region reflects the reality and experiences of the Region” the statement read.

16^thParliament's presidency, made up of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretary, called for journalists to have access to information and said that they will work with the government on ensuring that journalists are able to access information from government institutions. The presidency also stated that journalists should respect the freedom of individuals, avoid defamation and respect the symbols of Kurdistan. “We congratulate all journalists on this occasion and wish them every success in their work” the statement concluded.

16^thThe first Kurdish newspaper, called 'Kurdistan' was published in 1898 by Prince Mikdat Medhat Badrakhan.