ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Duhok court on Monday sentenced Syrian Kurdish journalist Sulaiman Ahmed to three years in prison on espionage charges. His lawyers criticized the verdict and have filed for an appeal.
Roj News, a media outlet affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), reported on Monday that Ahmed was convicted and sentenced because of alleged membership in the Democratic Union Party (PYD). Ahmed worked as a journalist at Roj News.
At the time of his arrest in October 2023, Duhok security forces stated that Ahmed was detained for his involvement “in secret and illegal activities for the PKK.”
PYD is the ruling party in northeast Syria (Rojava).
His lawyers condemned how the case was handled.
“The case should have been handled according to the journalism law, but under Article 1, Number 21 of the 2003 Kurdistan Region Parliament law, he was sentenced to three years for allegedly being a member of the Democratic Unity Party-PYD,” Nariman Ahmed, a member of Ahmed’s legal team told Roj News.
Under this law, a person could face life imprisonment for intentionally carrying out actions to damage the security, stability, and independence of the Kurdistan Region’s institutions.
Nariman Ahmed said the trial was conducted under strict conditions and initially they were not allowed to participate, but that restriction was later lifted.
Ahmed denied all charges, according to his lawyer, and plans to file an appeal.
Roj News reported that a representative from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) planned to attend the trial but was denied entry to the courtroom.
The case has drawn international criticism. Last month, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Kurdistan Region authorities to “immediately and unconditionally” release Ahmed and drop all charges against him.
Ahmed, who was the Arabic editor for Roj News, was arrested on October 25, 2023, while entering the Kurdistan Region from Syria, where he had been visiting his family.
For months following his visit, Roj News and other media affiliated with the PKK claimed that Ahmed had been “kidnapped” by Kurdistan Region authorities. Ahmed’s lawyers were finally able to meet him on May 22, when they signed a power of attorney.
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