Journalists were assaulted by police officers while covering protests in Sulaimaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan on 17 and 20 April. On Saturday, media employees were obstructed from reporting clashes between security forces and students following a ministry of education’s decision to change schools grading system. Soran Ahmed, reporter for the independent biweekly Hawlati, who told CPJ: “They beat me, seized my camera and my phone, handcuffed me and forced me into a police van.” On Tuesday, journalists were again prevented from covering protests in front of the General Directorate of Education.