Two journalists were assaulted by Crystal Hotel security staff in Erbil Governorate on November 12, 2022.

Mustafa Salman, a reporter for "Zagros" TV channel in Erbil, told the JFO: "While I was covering a fire that broke out in  Top Organic restaurant adjacent to Crystal Hotel in Erbil, a civilian asked me to delete the video of the fire, and I refused,  Since his request was unlawful, he yelled, pushed with his hands, and attempted to take my mobile phone forcibly.

Salman added, "When I refused to delete the video, I was surprised by an attack by a black-clad individual who struck me in the face, and then the blows continued by others until one of the attackers was identified as a kitchen worker at the hotel, and my shirt was torn," explaining that he had to call the police for help.

"I subsequently learned that the individual who began hitting me was the hotel's security officer, while the others were hotel employees and assistants," he added.

JFO documented a further assault on photographer Pierre Siddik, who was there and attempted to capture the violation of his colleague Mustafa Salman.

Siddiq said he was forced to erase the video of the security staff's violation.

JFO representative has documented the attack, as it was observed that hotel security beat two colleagues and prevented media professionals from entering the hotel's courtyard and videoing the incident, forcing TV channels' reporters to cover the incident outside the hotel.

JFO condemns the assault on the two journalists and holds the relevant Erbil authorities accountable for ensuring the safety of journalists.

JFO urges the Kurdistan region's government to hold the hotel security staff responsible and pursue legal action against them.