Party Controlled Court Sentences Sherwani
Reports 10:42 AM - 2023-07-25Journalist Sherwan Sherwani.
There have been an increasing number of demonstrations in
response to the Erbil Court's decision to sentence journalist Sherwan Sherwani
to a second four-year sentence, and groups and syndicates dedicated to
defending journalists' rights are advocating for his immediate and
unconditional release.
Some journalists believe that the court's party-influenced
treatment of journalist Sherwan Sherwani is intended to send a message to
journalists in Badinan and the yellow zone that silences the voices of protest
and curtails freedom of expression.
The Kurdistan Region has a law on journalism
Karwan Anwar, Secretary of the Sulaymaniyah branch of the
Kurdistan Syndicate of Journalists, told PUKMEDIA: "The re-punishment of
journalist Sherwan Sherwani is an odd case because he was previously sentenced
to six years in prison, and his punishment from prison is an unusual case that
calls the court and the law into question."
"The treatment of Sherwan Sherwani sends a signal to
other journalists, especially those working in Badinan and the yellow zone. In
any case, since Kurdistan has a law on journalism, those who break it should be
punished in accordance with that law, he continued.
How long will the Yellow Zone journalists keep quiet?
A police system against journalists was anticipated at the
beginning of the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG),
especially in the yellow zone, and according to sources from abroad, the media
situation in Kurdistan is unfavorable.
"Although we anticipated that the establishment of the
police system would worsen the situation for journalists in this cabinet, how
long would they keep quiet about the circumstances there?" Anwar added.
Even international reports claim that the media environment is unfavorable for
journalists in the Kurdistan Region, particularly in the yellow zone."
"We, the Sulaymaniyah branch of the Kurdistan
Journalists Syndicate, have spoken out against all the abuses of journalists in
the Kurdistan Region, but we question why the Syndicate of Journalists is
silent and has not even released a statement on Sherwan Sherwani's punishment.
The Syndicate has to take a serious stand against the arrest and punishment of
journalists and exert pressure on the government," he continued.
Sherwani's lack of freedom is a restriction on freedom of expression
The trial of Sherwan Sherwani and his comrades is intended
to undermine freedom of expression by sending a subliminal message to activists
and journalists in Badinan.
Rahman Gharib, Coordinator of the Metro Center for
Journalists' Rights and Advocacy, told PUKMEDIA, "The trial of Sherwan
Sherwani and his associates did not follow the rules of a fair trial and was
not shielded from political interference. The purpose of the procedure was to
silence protesters and limit freedom of expression."
"With this most recent ruling from the Erbil Court, the
KRG is indirectly warning all serious critics, journalists, and activists that
their fates will not be better than Sherwan Sherwanis'. "Therefore, Metro
Center opposes the decision to deny Sherwan Sherwani his freedom as an
injustice against all freedom fighters," he continued.
Erbil Court made its decision under party pressure
On July 24, 2023, journalist Kamal Rauf read the statement
of opposition from 17 media organizations and 150 journalists regarding the
case of journalist Sherwan Sherwani, saying: "Under pressure from a party
authority, the Erbil Court sentenced journalist Sherwan Sherwani to an
additional four years in prison on a frivolous charge with no logical
justification."
The sentencing of Sherwan Sherwani demonstrates how the
Kurdistan Region's standing in terms of democracy, rights, and press freedom is
deteriorating daily as a result of an unjust and anti-freedom government
system. The region has become dangerous for journalists and free speech, according
to the statement.
Rauf continued, "As journalists, we reject and condemn
the injustice committed in the name of the law and the court against our friend
Sherwan Sherwani." On the other hand, we place a high priority on press
freedom laws and rights, and we prohibit journalists from being subjected to
political vengeance or tribal animosity. We, therefore, raise our voices in
support of Sherwan Sherwani's plight and demand his immediate and unrestricted
release."
"The Kurdish struggle was for freedom, but now that we
are free, there are attempts to restrict our freedoms once more. This has been
the most contentious issue between the government, journalists, and freedom
fighters, particularly in this cabinet," he continued.
International sources assert that there has been a
significant decrease in the freedom of the press and freedom of speech during
the tenure of this cabinet and that the government has increased the amount of
pressure that is placed on activists and journalists. The journalists claim that
the current environment in the Kurdistan Region is not conducive to their work
and that they are putting themselves in danger as a result of the line of work
that they are in.
PUKMEDIA
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