By Bilal Tanriverdi

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq

Northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has shut the office of the Nalia Radio & Television (NRT) channel in Erbil, the KRG’s administrative capital.

According to a Wednesday statement released by the Kurdish-language channel, the office was closed by the KRG’s security forces on the orders of KRG President Massoud Barzani.

The Sulaymaniyah-based NRT, which has previously voiced opposition to the KRG’s planned referendum on Kurdish regional independence, described the move as “illegitimate” and “a violation of journalistic freedom”.

Slated for Sept. 25, the non-binding referendum will see residents of the Kurdish region vote on whether or not to declare independence from the Iraqi state.

Baghdad, Washington and Ankara have all voiced misgivings over the upcoming poll, warning that it would serve as a distraction from the region’s ongoing fight against the Daesh terrorist group.