ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and diplomatic missions in the Kurdistan Region have slammed the appellate court’s decision to uphold prison sentences for five journalists and activists from Duhok.
“Yesterday’s decision by the Kurdistan Region’s Cassation Court regrettably confirms the urgent need for judicial and institutional reform in the KRI to prevent such miscarriages of justice in future,” read a tweet from UNAMI on Monday.
Erbil’s appellate court on Sunday upheld a six year sentence for five journalists and activists from Duhok. The court’s decision comes after the defendants appealed against the initial ruling in May.
The EU Ambassador to Iraq said he was "appalled" by the decision.
Appalled by today’s decision of the Erbil Court of Appeal that confirmed the 6-year prison sentence for the 5 journalists and activists already convicted in May despite serious procedural flaws and allegations of mistreatment identified by the UN.
— Martin Huth 🇪🇺 🇮🇶 (@EUAmbIraq) June 27, 2021
The head of Canada’s office in Erbil has also spoken out against the ruling.
“Disappointed with yesterday's Appeals Court decision upholding the sentencing of Sherwan Sherwani, Shvan Saeed, Ayaz Karam, Hariwan Issa, and Guhdar Zebari. The unhindered work of journalists is key to an open and informed society,” Ashley Durec tweeted on Monday, using the hashtag #JournalismIsNotACrime.
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, as well as diplomatic representatives in the Region.
Amnesty International slammed the appellate court’s former decision, releasing a call to action in the form of a letter to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Coordinator Office for International Advocacy, Dindar Zebari calling on the KRG to “immediately” release the five detainees.
