Judicial council, court offer information on journalists to US, Germany after diplomatic condemnation
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Kurdistan Region appellate court and judicial council have said they are willing to provide information about journalists convicted on national security charges in February to the US and German consulates after the court’s decision to uphold their sentence drew condemnation from the diplomatic community.
“In regards to the mention of US and German consulates, it was part of showcasing the evidence retrieved from the convicts’ confessions – the consulates were named by the convicts and the court does not consider them guilty,” read a joint statement from Kurdistan Region judicial council and Appellate court seen by Rudaw English on Saturday.
“We are willing, in the legal and diplomatic context, to inform them of any information, evidence, and documents in order to reveal the truth,” the statement added.
In February, five journalists and activists – Sherwan Sherwani, Shvan Saeed, Ayaz Karam, Hariwan Issa, and Guhdar Zebari – were put on trial for “endangering the national security of the Kurdistan Region.” They were found guilty and sentenced to six years in jail, prompting outcry from media watchdogs and human rights groups.
An appeal court has now upheld the ruling, saying the men had intended to “target sensitive areas and establishments in the Kurdistan Region.” The decision can be appealed by the defendants.
“They had also contacted the American consulate and German consulate and took money from them,” the appeal court’s ruling said, adding that the defendants had allegedly contacted the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).
The men were arrested in Duhok last year during anti-government protests over unpaid government wages.
In March, the Kurdistan Region Security Council released purported confessions from the men, claiming they had “direct” links to the PKK.
The appeal court’s ruling has drawn condemnation from several diplomatic missions in the Region.
“The French consulate reiterates that the relationship with the Kurdistan Region and our cooperation is based on common principles and values, among which the freedom of press and expression and protests have a fundamental place,” French Consul General Olivier Decottignies tweeted on Saturday.
“The French consulate voices its serious concern towards any attempt of accusation made in the Kurdistan Region against the relationship of journalists and civil society with diplomatic representatives and consulates,” he added.
The US consulate in Erbil said it expects the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to “respect the work” of its diplomatic staff.
“We expect host governments all around the world to respect the work of US diplomats, who – much like journalists – meet with a variety of people in order to do their jobs. We extend this same courtesy to foreign diplomats working in the United States, including representatives of the KRG,” a spokesperson for the consulate told Rudaw English by email on Thursday.
Germany has also criticized the ruling, calling on President Nechirvan Barzani to use his power to grant the men amnesty.
The KRG Council of Ministers issued a statement late Friday saying the courts are free from government interference and the KRG values its partnerships with allied countries.
The KRG “reiterates that the judiciary in the Kurdistan Region is independent of the government. There is no way that the government can or would interfere in its proceedings,” read the statement.
The ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) issued a statement in support of the court decision, saying that legal establishments should be left alone.
“What has happened is clear, after legal investigation from the legal authorities and with reliance on evidence provided. This is the effort of some people to destablize the security and safety of Kurdistan Region,” read the statement from the KDP on Saturday. “It is better to let the legal establishments to do their job and respect their role.”
Correction: An earlier version of this article mistranslated the French consul's comment as "clear discontent" instead of "serious concern." It has now been updated.
Updated 11:02pm