Unjust Treatment by the Kurdistan Regional Government Continues Against Sherwan Sherwani and Further Erodes Freedom of Expression
On August 19, 2025, journalist Sherwan Sherwani was tried and convicted in the Bnaslawa Misdemeanor Court for allegedly threatening a security officer inside the Erbil Adult Prison. He was sentenced to an additional four years and five months in prison. CPT-IK observed the trial and documented major violations, including a lack of proper evidence and procedures, the defense’s inability to challenge the validity of the evidence used to convict Sherwani, unjust sentencing, the militarization of the court, and the use of plainclothes security personnel to agitate and assault civilians waiting outside the courtroom.
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Updates on Violations Against Journalists and Activists in Iraqi Kurdistan | July 2025
July recorded one of the most repressive and aggressive periods of the year for journalists and activists by governmental authorities and entities. During the month, there were nine arrests, one attempted arrest, one killing, seven injuries, and four incidents in which at least 18 journalists were obstructed from performing their work. This escalation in repression coincided with a rise in activism and media coverage focusing on key grievances, including delays in salary payments, inadequate access to basic services, and growing tensions over land disputes between tribe leaders and allegations of preferential treatment by the government in how the disputes were resolved.
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CPT Iraqi Kurdistan's Report on Guhdar Zebari’s Trial on October 1st 2023
On October 1st, 2023 Guhdar Zebari was tried and convicted in Erbil Misdemeanor Court Number Two for possession of an unregistered weapon and sentenced to six months in prison with no fine. CPT-IK is concerned with a number of aspects in this trial and the related investigation, all of which outlined in this report.
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