ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United States embassy in Baghdad said it is closely following the legal case of seven journalists and activists from Duhok, five of whom were controversially sentenced this week to six years in jail on national security charges, and urged respect for press freedom.
“We have followed closely the recent detentions of journalists and activists and the subsequent trials,” read a statement from the embassy on Friday.
“The U.S. has consistently engaged on the issue of freedom expression, including for members of the press, with KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] officials and will continue to do so. Democratic societies respect freedom and expression and support the ability of press members to report without fear of retaliation,” the statement added.
On Monday, seven people from Duhok, including two journalists, were put on trial in Erbil for “endangering the national security of the Kurdistan Region.” Five of the defendants – Sherwan Sherwani, Shvan Saeed, Ayaz Karam, Hariwan Issa, and Guhdar Zebari – were found guilty and on Tuesday were sentenced to six years in jail. The cases of two other defendants, including teacher Badal Barwari, have been sent back to the court for further hearings due to a lack of evidence.
While Dindar Zebari, the KRG's Coordinator for International Advocacy, claimed in a phone call to Rudaw that German and American diplomatic representatives were present for the trial, both missions have denied their attendance.
The court’s ruling caused outrage in the Kurdistan Region and abroad.
On Friday evening, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani urged everyone to cease “interference” in the case. “I strongly urge everyone to respect the judiciary system in the Kurdistan Region and to let it do its job independently and without interference,” he tweeted.
An international press freedom monitor condemned “unfair and disproportionate” sentences.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Qubad Talabani said on Friday the concerns raised by the trial are damaging to the reputation of the Kurdistan Region.
“This is a legal topic, however it has raised suspicion among people and this will hurt the Kurdistan Region’s reputation,” Talabani told Gali Kurdistan, media linked to his party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). “I ask the public prosecutor to play its role and for the Appellate Court to make the right decision, in which the rule of law, freedom, and democracy are protected.”
The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-terrorism directorate also issued a statement on Friday, asking the public to not defend people who are “destroying peace and security.”
“It is very strange in Kurdistan that people are arrested on a court order and legal action for spying, destroying the peace and security, and burning government barracks, but for the sake of political conspiracy it is to be reported to the public that these are activists and journalists,” read the statement.
President Nechirvan Barzani said on Thursday he is watching the situation and that it is the responsibility of the appeal court to review the case, “relying on and respecting law, human rights, and the legal rights of the defendant and the plaintiff so that everyone feels that their rights are protected.”
The men were arrested in Duhok province last year after anti-government protests over unpaid wages. PM Barzani previously claimed the men were “spies” and saboteurs plotting terror attacks against foreign missions, and abductions and assassinations.
Relatives of some of the detainees have rejected the claims of espionage and Bashdar Hassan, lawyer for a number of the defendants, said such a statement from the prime minister “was proof that a verdict has already been rendered in their case.”
Updated on 21/02/21 at 11:00 am to reflect that both US and German diplomatic representatives denied their attendance at the trial
