KCWA Condemns CMC’s Decision Against Korek as Politically Motivated

The Kurdistan Communication Workers Association (KCWA) strongly condemns the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission’s (CMC) recent actions against Korek Telecom, stating that the decision is politically driven rather than based on financial or regulatory grounds. KCWA asserts that such politically motivated interference threatens the stability of the telecommunications sector and undermines investor confidence in Iraq. The association calls on the CMC to act transparently and impartially, ensuring that regulatory decisions are made based on legal and economic justifications rather than political agendas. KCWA stands in solidarity with telecom workers and urges all stakeholders to protect the industry from unjust interventions that could disrupt essential services and harm the livelihoods of thousands of employees.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Sirwan Barzani, the CEO of the Erbil-based Korek Telecom, on Tuesday criticized a decision by Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) to cut off internet services for the company as “political” and unrelated to its financial rows. 

The CMC’s decision “is political and not financial,” Sirwan Barzani told Rudaw. 

Earlier on the same day, the Iraqi government agency had stated that it was suspending Korek’s internet services “due to non-compliance with paying outstanding debts and continued violations,” and “to encourage” the telecom company to “settle its debts.”

The CMC sent an official letter to the Iraqi communications ministry urging the implementation of the decision against Korek. It further urged the telecom company to compensate subscribers.

Barzani clarified that, if implemented, the CMC’s decision will not affect subscribers in the Kurdistan Region. “We will not remain silent,” he stated. 

Korek subscribers across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have been unable to make or receive calls, or send and receive messages from both domestic and international carriers for over a year. The disruption stemmed from a November 2023 decision by the CMC’s to block Korek’s communications over its unpaid financial obligations.

A month earlier, the CMC had warned Korek that its operating license had expired and that it had failed to pay “large sums” of owed money, meaning the license would not be renewed.

Korek condemned the CMC’s actions as “illegal” at the time, expressing its willingness to resolve the issues in accordance with the law. 

from: www.rudaw.net