Islam Kashani is a journalist, director of the office of Speda Satellite Channel in Zakho District of Nineveh Governorate, and a news presenter for Xabir Satellite Channel. On 24 August 2023, he was arrested in his home in the city of Zakho, by a security force affiliated with the Asayish (Internal Security Forces). His house was stormed by another Asayish force hours later. The two forces did not have judicial permission to arrest him or storm his house. He was released on bail the next day. His arrest was linked to opinions he expressed on social media and television news programs, in which he criticised corruption in the region’s institutions, non-payment of salaries to employees, and poor public services provided to citizens.