On the anniversary of the assassination of Sardasht Osman, we call for the release of imprisoned journalists and the expansion of freedom of expression
CPT-IK Statement: 5 May 2026
Sixteen years ago, journalist Sardasht Osman was kidnapped in front of Salahaddin University in Erbil, and his body was later found dead on the road to Mosul. On the anniversary of his assassination, we commemorate his journalism, and pay our respects to his dignity. We hold in high regard his struggle to expand the horizons of freedom of expression and critical discourse.
At the same time, Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) - Iraqi Kurdistan Team declares our commitment not to abandon the case of Sardasht Osman, and we pledge to be even more diligent in following up on the violations committed against his colleagues and fellow journalists in the provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja.
As we commemorate Osman, journalist Sherwan Sherwani has been in prison for nearly six years, convicted after an unjust verdict. It is still unclear whether further cases will be opened against him or if he will be released.
While we remember all killed, imprisoned, and tortured journalists, on the sixteenth anniversary of the assassination of Sardasht Osman, we call upon the Kurdistan Regional Government authorities to bring the perpetrators of the Sardasht case to justice. Journalist Sherwan Sherwani and other journalists and civil activists in prisons must be released, and freedom of expression must be respected.
