CPT-IK STATEMENT REGARDING THE SENTENCING OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS FROM BADINAN
The Court sentenced five independent journalists and activists from Badinan to six years in prison. Clockwise from top left: Shivan Saeed, Sherwan Sherwani, Guhdar Zebary, Eyaz Karam and Hariwan Essa,
Today, on 16 February 2021, after a nine-hour-long trial spread over two days, the criminal court in Erbil sentenced Sherwan Sherwani and two other independent journalists Eyaz Karam and Guhdar Zebari, as well as two civil rights activists: Shvan Saeed and Hariwan Essa to six-year prison terms for alleged espionage and preparation of violent anti-state activities. The evidence presented to the court were several personal conversations which may carry differing meanings, photos used in journalism work, and their communication with international organizations about violations of human rights in Iraqi Kurdistan.
During a short break in the trial, Sherwan, who was locked with the other four Badinan activists in a cage, told CPT members who were present at the trial that he was tortured. He asked to deliver his message to the civil society activists to "stay united and do as much as they can to put pressure on the KRG to bring justice for the Badinan prisoners.”
At the end of the trial Sherwan shouted: “The ruling political party is using the judge, court and legal powers to restrain the freedom of speech in Kurdistan.”
Sherwan’s words describe what CPT and others had observed during the trial. The lawyers of the security Council did not present any direct and reasonable evidence that would support any of the accusations made against the Badinan journalists and activists. Moreover, the political motivation to silence civil and human rights initiatives seems to be evident from the claim that communication with international human rights organization about civil rights and freedoms consists an act that undermines state unity or security.
Members of CPT-IK are deeply saddened with this process that targets fundamental civil rights and destroys lives of those who expose truth and stand against violence. We send our good thoughts to the Badinan journalists and activists and their families.
As an international human rights organization, CPT-IK calls on the Kurdistan Regional and Iraqi Governments, as well as the international state and non-state actors, to take a stance against this injustice and to ensure that during the trial of appeal the rule of law and independent legal process is respected.