ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – An activist arrested by Duhok security forces last year for his alleged role in protests was sentenced to one year in prison on Tuesday on the grounds of misusing a communication device, a source familiar with his case told Rudaw.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said activist Omed Baroshki received two six-month sentences from a Duhok court and was also fined 240,000 Iraqi dinars ($162) for violating administrative rulings following a lawsuit from the Duhok governor’s office and Duhok police.
His next trial is on July 24, when “he will be tried for three other lawsuits against him,” the source added.
Baroshki and Badal Barwari, a teacher in the public sector, as well as five other activists and journalists have been held by security forces since summer 2020 for their alleged role in protests which were held against the Kurdistan Region’s failure to pay its civil servants in full and on time.
Their arrests and trial has been condemned by both local and international rights groups, especially the five found guilty and sentenced to six years in jail in February for allegedly harming the Region’s security.
Erbil's appeals court upheld the ruling on May 6, claiming they were working with US and German diplomatic missions in the Region. The German consulate hit back at the ruling, calling it "absurd."
The case has attracted local and international criticism. Members of the Kurdistan Region parliament said the detainees have been subjected to “human rights violations,” denied access to their lawyers and families, and are living in cramped conditions.
They were recently allowed to meet their families in jail after a visit by the Kurdistan Parliament speaker and groups of MPs to jail.
Lawyers have sent back the dossiers of the detained journalists and activists to the appeals court for review.
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