Hawlati

Hawlati (Kurdish for "citizen") is an independent Kurdish newspaper, published in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan and London. Tariq Fatih is the owner of the paper.

Hawlati
ھاووڵاتی
TypeBi-weekly newspaper
Owner(s)Tariq Fatih
PublisherRanj Publishing House
EditorKamal Rauf
Political alignmentLeft-wing
LanguageKurdish
HeadquartersSulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan Kurdistan Region
WebsiteOfficial website

Hawlati is a biweekly newspaper issued by Ranj Publishing House, published on Sundays and Wednesdays.[1] The current editor is Kamal Rauf. The newspaper first appeared on 5 November 2000. The BBC referred to the launch of Hawlati as the birth of independent media in Iraq.[2] One of the founders, Asos Hardi, is the son of the Kurdish poet Ahmad Hardi. Hawlati claims to be the first independent newspaper in the region since the fall of Saddam Hussein. To prove its transparency, the paper made a point of publishing its quarterly financial reports in the paper itself. The paper also had to cope with the lack of professional journalists in Iraq.[3] The London edition was launched in April 2009.[4]

Hawlati is one of two independent newspapers in Iraqi Kurdistan - the other is Awene, which was established by a number of journalists, including Hardi, after their split from Hawlati. The newspaper’s independent stance has frequently brought it into trouble with the authorities. In 2008, the former editor, Abad Arif, was arrested and released on bail after a suit bought by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani for an article in the newspaper alleging corruption in the Iraqi Government.[5] He received a heavy fine for this article.[6]

In 2008 Hawlati was voted the most popular newspaper in Iraqi Kurdistan.[7]

References
  1. "The KRG's hostility against independent Kurdish Hawlati". WADI. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  2. "Guide: Iraq's Kurdish media". BBC. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  3. Hardi, Asos (2008-04-11). "Birth Pains of an Independent Press". Arab Press Network. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  4. "Hawlati - London Edition: Hawlati goes international". Kurdish Media. 2009-04-24. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  5. "Iraqi Kurdistan: The Kurdish Hawlati newspaper editor released on bail". Kurd Net. 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  6. ""Hawlati" newspaper, former editor fined for defaming president". IFEX. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  7. "Hawlati is the best Kurdish newspaper, poll". Iraq Updates. 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
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