KRG coordinator responds to international criticism over jailed journalists, activists

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Local and foreign entities have to respect decisions made by the Kurdistan Region’s courts and their “impartiality,” a top official from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said on Monday, following backlash the KRG has received from foreign diplomats after an Erbil court upheld the sentencing of five journalists and activists in the region.

“The human rights standards to which KRG clings remain unparalleled. Courts have legal sanctity, & the gov is committed to not interfere with it. We call on local & foreign entities to respect the impartiality of the courts,” said the KRG Coordinator for International Advocacy, Dindar Zebari, in a tweet. 

Zebari also referred to the Kurdistan Region as a “regional beacon for democracy.”

Zebari later said in a statement, a copy of which was sent to Rudaw, that the courts in the Region are “independent of the government and apolitical.”

“The Kurdistan Regional Government does not and will not interfere with legal process,” he 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, as well as diplomatic representatives in the Region. 

Erbil’s appellate court on Sunday upheld their sentences. The court’s decision comes after the defendants appealed against the initial ruling in May. 

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), European Union Ambassador to Iraq Martin Huth and the Head of Canada’s office in Erbil, Ashley Durec, have all criticized the court decision. 

The men were arrested in Duhok province last year after anti-government protests over unpaid wages. Kurdish security forces, known as Asayish, detained over two dozen people.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani had claimed the detainees were “spies” and saboteurs plotting terror attacks against foreign missions, and abductions and assassinations, prior to their sentencing.

 

Updated at 11:01 PM