.jpg)
Asos Hardi, the Editor-in-Chief of the local Kurdistan Region newspaper Awena, was tonight attacked by a gang of unknown armed men who were waiting for him outside his office and battered him about the head with pistol butts.
The Awena newspaper is located on Salm Street, Sulaymani. Asos was attacked as he left work and tried to get into his car. He was subsequently taken to the district hospital for treatment.
This is not the first such assault to happen in the wake of this spring’s anti-government protests. Other victims include the lawyer Karwan Kamal, who was shot, the writer Rebin Hardi, several other activists and leaders of the Azadi Square uprising and a large number of journalists. Today’s attack on Asos Hardi comes within 48 hours of President Barzani’s speech announcing measures to normalise the political situation.
